INTRODUCTION. 



EXPERIENCE in India convinced me that, if systematic, 

 economic forestry were to become an enduring thing in India 

 and in the colonies, it would be necessary to make it so in the 

 mother country. When forestry in Britain has once become 

 an essential part of the industry based upon the soil, those 

 who go out to govern the British possessions beyond the seas 

 will be duly impressed by its importance. They will bring to 

 their spheres of action a sympathetic understanding of the 

 business, which will go a long way to prevent any oscillating 

 policy, that otherwise might threaten to interfere with the 

 progress of forest management. Continuity of action will then 

 become the order of the day, without which no industry can 

 nourish, whatever its name or nature may be ; and least of 

 all forestry, the produce of which frequently requires a century 

 and more to mature. 



Thus it was in the interests of India that I first took up 

 the subject of British forestry, and it has occupied me ever 

 since I returned from India in 1885. I travelled over the 

 greater part of England, Scotland and Ireland, and soon 

 became aware of the great importance to this country of 

 extended afforestation and improved management of the 

 existing woods. Already in January, 1886, I submitted to 

 the Earl of Carnarvon, then Viceroy of Ireland, at his Lord- 

 ship's invitation, a pamphlet entitled "Afforestation in Great 

 Britain and Ireland." Before that pamphlet had left the 

 press, a change of Government took place, and my pamphlet 

 was, I presume, shelved. However, I went on, and at various 

 periods I published not only a Manual of Forestry, but various 

 articles and other papers. Of the latter I desire to draw 



