94 FORESTRY IN GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND. 



taking over the wood at any time at a satisfactory valuation of the 

 outlay, with interest, on the part of the Forest Authority. 



It is desirable that as much as possible of the required land, 

 whether by purchase or lease, be secured by voluntary contract, 

 but power of compulsory acquisition must be given to the Forest 

 Authority, so that a single owner may not hold up the develop- 

 ment of a scheme that has been undertaken. 



The Method of Co-Partnership. — It is proposed that the owner 

 should provide the land and the local management, while the 

 State would contribute the money for the cost of afforestation 

 and control the management ; the net receipts would then be 

 divided equitably according to the amount of capital put in by 

 each partner. The advantage on the part of the State would be 

 that the immediate outlay would be much reduced as compared 

 with direct purchase, that the experience and local knowledge of 

 the landowner would be utilized, and that the number of men in 

 direct State employment would be much reduced. The advan- 

 tage on the part of the landowner would be that he retains 

 possession of the land, and that the experience and expert advice 

 of the Forest Authority are at the back of the venture, which 

 might incline him to take a risk otherwise inexpedient to him. 

 The Sub-Committee was hopeful that this system would be 

 successful. 



Afforestation by Local Authorities. — Many large cities have 

 become the owners of considerable tracts of land which serve as 

 the catchment areas of their water supply. The best way of 

 utiHzing these lands is to put them under forest, as this tends to 

 equalise the run-ofi during the different seasons of the year and 

 to fix the surface soil, thus reducing the amount of silt carried into 

 the reservoirs. It should be the rule that in catchment areas 

 aU suitable land will be afiorested, and that local authorities 

 should be ehgible to receive assistance from the State in the same 

 way as private proprietors. 



Attention should also be drawn to the value of forests as recrea- 

 tion grounds, especially in the neighbourhood of the towns. The 

 shade in summer and the protection against cold winds render 

 forests in this respect more serviceable than open parks, while the 

 use by the public need not appreciably reduce the return of timber 

 and other produce derivable from the areas. The estabhshment 



