vi FORESTS, WOODS, AND TREES 



applicable to this country. The concluding chapters of the 

 book are accordingly, with great fitness for the times, 

 devoted to a study of the afforestation of the extensive 

 gathering grounds, from which so many of our great 

 centres of population obtain their supplies of water. No 

 pains have been spared in obtaining statistics and informa- 

 tion as to the physical features, ownership, and extent of 

 these gathering grounds. The work of planting suitable 

 portions of these areas with the aid of disbanded soldiers 

 might be undertaken at once, without any disturbance to 

 other industries. Their afforestation in any case should be 

 linked up with the general scheme of afforestation of the 

 waste lands of Great Britain and Ireland, which it is con- 

 fidently expected will be undertaken by the State as soon 

 as peace is made. Scattered as the gathering grounds are 

 throughout the country, they will form convenient centres 

 for planting, more especially in the cases where their 

 ownership has been acquired by local authorities. The 

 compulsory purchase of catchment areas, which are not 

 already owned by municipalities, is advisable for sanitary 

 reasons ; and the necessary legislation may possibly be 

 introduced when afforestation by the State becomes a 

 reality. 



Acknowledgements 



Much information concerning water catchment areas has 

 been supplied by town clerks, engineers, and other municipal 

 officers throughout the country, and to them my grateful 

 thanks are now tendered. Messrs. J. & A. Leslie & 

 Reid, Edinburgh ; Mr. Joseph Parry, M.Inst.C.E., Consult- 

 ing Engineer, Liverpool Waterworks ; Mr. David A, Donald, 

 Burgh Engineer, Grangemouth ; Mr. C. H. Priestley, 



