REPLACEMENT OF IMPORTED TIMBER. 87 



of the imports, and these can all be replaced in Great Britain and 

 Ireland by larch, pines, spruces and firs. Oak, ash and some 

 other species included under Miscellaneous Woods can also be 

 grown at home. On the other hand, teak, mahogany, and most 

 of the fancy woods come from tropical countries. Wood pulp is 

 made almost entirely of spruce and pine, and it can be prepared 

 from home-grown material. 



It has been said that home-grown timber is of inferior quality 

 compared with that of the same species imported from abroad. 

 As to the quality of home-grown oak and ash, it is well known 

 that it is at least equal to that of imported oak and ash, and in 

 many cases superior. The same holds good in the case of beech 

 and larch. It is true that inferior spruce and pine has frequently 

 been produced at home in the past, but it is equally true that this 

 was the result of faulty silviculture. Thinnings during the first 

 half of the life of the woods were too heavy, and pines were, in the 

 majority of cases, cut before they had formed heartwood. More 

 rational treatment will remedy this. The greatest obstacle to 

 successful forest production in Great Britain and Ireland is the 

 westerly, and especially south-westerly, winds, but proper treat- 

 ment modifies the effect of these winds very considerably. Woods 

 should never be opened out on the side whence the prevailing 

 winds blow, but on the opposite side. 



On the whole, it may be said that the question of reducing 

 Britain's dependence on imports of timber and wood derivatives 

 depends on the area of land available for afforestation and the will 

 of the nation to plant it. The chief difficulty in the way of affores- 

 tation is the fact that the bulk of the mountain and heath land is 

 private property. In some cases proprietors are not inclined to 

 plant, and in others they cannot afford to meet the initial expense 

 of planting, or to forego the present small income from the land 

 until the plantations begin to yield a return. In these circum- 

 stances three ways of meeting the difficulty present themselves : — 



(a) The State may encourage afforestation by private proprietors 

 by giving them financial assistance when necessary. 



(6) Municipalities and other corporations may acquire land and 

 convert it into corporation forests. 



(c) The State may acquire land, either by purchase or long 

 lease, and afforest it. 



