136 ENGLISH WOODLANDS 



more precise, and there should be no difficulty 

 in proving that the French and German Forest 

 Administrations are not expensive, if such is 

 the case. This proof has not yet been given. 

 There is no book published in the English 

 language containing accounts from which it is 

 possible to ascertain the expenses of the French 

 and German Forest Administrations. The 

 Forestry Sub -Committee give no reference to 

 any published accounts. 



The fact that returns from forestry are long 

 deferred may be a reason for thinking that 

 private enterprise would be unwilling to carry 

 out afforestation on a large scale, from which, 

 if it is assumed that afforestation on a large 

 scale is necessary, it follows that the work must 

 be done by the State. Some people go much 

 farther, and urge that, even if private enter- 

 prise is willing to carry out afforestation, State 

 afforestation should be started, because in their 

 opinion the State can do the work better than 

 individuals. Their argument is that continuity 

 of administration is essential in forestry, and 

 that a State department gives continuity of 

 administration with more certainty than can be 

 expected from a succession of individuals. No 

 historical facts are ever given in proof of the 



