SECTIONAL TRANSACTIONS.— K*. 393 



DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY (K*). 



Thursday, September 1. 



Chairman's Address by Mr. T. B. Ponsonby on A system of forestry 

 for the British Isles. 



British woodlands must be economic, beautiful, and they must hold game. 

 The existing system of clear-cutting followed by replanting results in 

 monotonous and unpicturesque woods, which are very inefficient as game 

 reserves, and their value as an econoinic investment is decidedly doubtful. 



The Selection type of forest is more beautiful and of greater sporting 

 value. Its economic value only is in dispute and is here discussed. 



In the hands of experts, the Selection wood can give returns, both as to 

 quantity and quality, that are as good as, or better than, those yielded 

 by the even-aged methods. The objection raised against the system by 

 competent critics is not based on any sylvicultural insufficiency, but on the 

 high standard of management required. 



An outline is given of management suitable as the basis of large forests 

 worked on the Selection system, and an indication given for the management 

 of smaller areas. 



It is very important to obtain some measure of natural regeneration 

 which we, along with all countries which have adopted ' clear ' cutting 

 methods, have so unfortunately lost. It is only by natural regeneration 

 that we can obtain trees suitable to each of our very varying districts. The 

 agricultural analogy for the importation of exotic seeds does not hold good 

 in that it is not possible to alter the soil conditions, both chemical and 

 physical, in the forest in the same way as can be done in agricultural land. 



Discussion. (Mr. A. C. Forbes, O.B.E. ; Dr. A. S. Watt.) 



Mr. R. C. B. Gardner, Secretary British Wood Preserving Association. — 

 Timber preservation on estates. 



The durability in service of oak and larch appears to depend to a great 

 extent upon the conditions under which they have been grown, and it is 

 not safe to rely too implicitly upon the reputation for durability which these 

 timbers have acquired. Examples will be given which bear out this con- 

 tention. Where supplies of these timbers have become depleted satis- 

 factory use can be made, by adequate preservative treatment, of many timbers 

 which are not naturally durable, such as birch, beech, alder, elrn and poplar. 



Treatment under pressure gives the best results, but eminently satis- 

 factory results can be obtained in the open tank by the heating and cooling 

 method. This method can be carried out also in a simple and inexpensive 

 plant for the treatment of the butt-ends of fence posts, which will be fully 

 described. 



Statistics of the life in service of most of the home-grown timbers, both 

 treated and untreated, and under varying conditions of soil and rainfall, 

 are given, together with slides showing the forms of pressure, open-tank 

 and butt-treatment plants, in use on estates in Great Britain. Creosote 

 and water-soluble salt preservatives will be described, and their advantages 

 and limitations for various classes of work will be indicated. 



Afternoon. 



Excursion to Castle Howard. 



o 2 



