CHAPTER IV 
TIMBER PRODUCTION IN BRITAIN 
By E. J. SALISBURY, D.Sc., F.L.S. 
Lecturer in Botany at the East London College 
THE national importance of an adequate supply of 
home-grown timber has been very cogently brought 
before us during the present war. It can scarcely be 
gainsaid that for the future it is extremely desirable 
that in times of stress we should be independent of sea- 
borne supplies for our minimal requirements. But 
apart from the utilisation of timber in its unconverted 
form, the maintenance of sufficient home provision 
would both encourage and create the numerous asso- 
ciated industries which depend upon forests for their 
raw material. Not only would these produce an in- 
crease of employment, but, what is perhaps even more 
to be desired, would tend to retain permanently the rural 
population in country districts, and thus maintain a 
more equable distribution of labour. 
The value of forests in regulating water supply has 
long been recognised, and the planting of water catch- 
ment areas might profitably be undertaken on a much 
larger scale than heretofore. The example of Birming- 
ham, Leeds and Liverpool in this direction is one which 
might well be followed by other municipalities. 
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