THE RURAL PROBLEM 107 



of surrounding land, it provides employment, it reclaims 

 tracts which are nearly useless at present, and it gives the 

 community control of sporting areas which it can, if it will, 

 place at the disposal of any who cannot afford the highly 

 preserved and expensive sport of the richer classes. More- 

 over, it will preserve for England the woods which are in 

 danger of disappearing under the neglect and ignorance of 

 their present owners. Disease is rife, notably among the 

 beeches and the larches ; planting is being discontinued as 

 the least immediately remunerative work of estate manage- 

 ment. Without State action our woods are doomed ; with it 

 they may gradually grow again into being, bringing added 

 wealth to the people and forest beauty to the countryside. 



