26 MEASURES TO BE TAKEN IN THE UNITED KINGDOM. 



employed in preparing, the land for planting, by draining, 

 fencing, and digging planting holes, on such a scale that 

 sufficient work is provided for the men, until hard times 

 pass, and they can return to their ordinary occupation, a 

 certain number perhaps being retained to do the actual 

 planting. Towards spring the staff of workmen would be 

 reduced to its permanent strength, which would be busy with 

 nursery work during spring, summer and autumn. 



A certain outlay for housing would, of course, have to be 

 incurred, but the work done on these plantations would lead 

 to some tangible results, and not to waste, as is so often the 

 case with relief works. 



If the experiment turns out a success, and with proper 

 arrangements it should do so, further land might be acquired 

 in the above-mentioned three counties, or in Suffolk and 

 Norfolk, or even further north. 



In many cases, operations of this class may be combined 

 with the utilisation of catchment areas for waterworks. The 

 Corporation of Liverpool has extensive gathering grounds 

 at Vyrnwy in North Wales, where plantations have already 

 been commenced. Here a line example of utilising moun- 

 tain lands can, and it is hoped will, be given, which I trust 

 will be imitated by other corporations. In spite of much 

 discussion as to the advisability of afforesting gathering 

 grounds, there can be no doubt that it is the best means 

 of keeping the water pure and of regulating its flow, a fact 

 which will be affirmed by those who have enquired into the 

 magnificent works carried out by the town of Verviers in 

 Belgium. Its gathering ground on the banks of the river 

 Gileppe is entirely under forest, and with the most satisfactory 

 results. 



If London and other large cities embarked on an enterprise 

 like that sketched by me, a considerable area might gradually 

 be brought under forest ; it would help to overcome the 

 difficulty of the unemployed, and add considerably to the 

 quantity of timber produced in the country. Moreover, it 



