EXPERIENCE GAINED DURING THE WAR. 83 



The author of this book took up the question of improved 

 forestry and extended afforestation soon after his return from 

 India in 1885, and placed his views before the public by writing, 

 lecturing, and practical advice given to forest proprietors. In 

 this task he was, after a time, followed by others, more especially 

 by Dr. J. Nisbet and Mr. W. R. Fisher. Some progress, though 

 slow, was made in drawing attention to the importance of 

 forestry, and in 1895 the late Sir Stafford Howard, Commissioner 

 of Woods, took up the task of improving the management of the 

 Crown Woods. He had reports on the Dean and High Meadow 

 Woods drawn up by a distinguished Indian forest officer, and in 

 1899 he appointed the first scientific forester to assist in the 

 management of the Dean, High Meadow and Tintern Woods. 

 Subsequently these woods came under the management of the 

 scientifically trained Forestry Inspectors of the Board of Agricul- 

 ture, who continued and further developed the system of manage- 

 ment. These areas are now the most instructive forests in the 

 country, and they show the paramount importance of entrusting 

 the management of forests to scientifically trained men. They 

 also prove that the State is quite capable of successfully carrying 

 out schemes of afforestation and of providing effective manage- 

 ment. Thus, by 1914, a considerable number of people had 

 recognised the importance of the systematic management of 

 forests and the necessity of a considerable extension of their area, 

 but it required a further stimulus to convert this movement into 

 action, and this was provided by the war. 



2. Experience Gained during the War. 



Within a month of the outbreak of the war, fears arose that the 

 British coal mines might run short of pitwood, owing to the rapid 

 reduction of the imports of such wood. Enquiries were set on 

 foot to ascertain : — 



{a) What quantities of home-grown pitwood were available. 



(6) Whether the available amount was sufficient for the needs 



of the colHeries until normal conditions would once more 



obtain. 



The enquiries showed that the total existing quantity would be 



used up in about two years, exclusive of existing stocks and 



further suppUes from outside. Soon afterwards timber for 



o 2 



