176 TIMBER SUPPLIES AND THE WAR 



and replanting. Their opportunity has now arrived. 

 It should prove possible to fell all accessible areas of 

 this nature at a profit, provided the operation is 

 undertaken in the near future and before other more 

 distant supplies are placed upon the market.^ Thus, 

 broadly speaking, it may be said that almost any 

 area which is fairly accessible and has on it a crop of 

 size and sufficient durability to produce pit props 

 has at the present a market before it. Areas of older 

 trees can supply logs and sawn and planed timber in 

 addition to pitwood. Other hardwoods which will 

 now be taken are chestnut, beech, birch, sycamore, 

 elm, and alder. 



It is possible to differentiate between the different 

 classes of woods which may be utilised in this manner 

 in the service of the nation, and to the advantage of 

 the proprietor. 



Taking first the Scots pine woods of Scotland. There 

 are unfortunately considerable tracts of both middle- 

 aged and old woods which were very badly blown out 

 in the great gales of November 1911 and April 1912. 

 Other areas of middle-age and under have been badly 

 opened out by snow-break and wind. Others, again, 

 planted in unsuitable localities, have never fulfilled 

 the anticipations formed for them, and already before 

 middle age it is seen that they will require a very long 

 rotation to produce timber of sleeper size. The oppor- 

 tunity for all these classes of woods is to hand, and 

 there should be every prospect, if they are dealt with 



1 It has already been shown in Article I, p. 8, that such areas 

 are being felled in Perthshire (and elsewhere), the material being 

 delivered on the Highland Railway at 18s. per ton. Vide PI. 8. 

 These props are being sent to Newcastle. — E. P. S. May 191 6. 



