TIMBER PRODUCTION 57 
gauged by the character of the mosses present. Thus: 
the presence of Brachythecium rutabulum on a light sandy 
loam indicates at once the unsuitability of the area for 
beech, owing to the proximity of the permanent water 
table. 
Probably a careful study of the fungi and humicolous 
lichens in this connection would yield results of equal 
value, and we may perhaps look forward to the time 
when cryptogams will provide indicators as valuable 
to the forester and agriculturist as are vegetable dyes 
to the analytical chemist. 
Afforestation—We now turn to the very debatable 
question of afforestation. There can, I think, be little 
doubt that if afforestation be undertaken, it should be 
by the State or by municipalities. 
Firstly, the State is able to borrow money at a lower 
rate of interest than the private individual ; secondly, 
the private individual is seldom in a position to pro- 
vide the necessary capital for afforesting a large area 
such as is necessary for financial success; thirdly, the 
return from timber is so long delayed that for some 
years the capital yields no return, a matter of serious 
consideration for the landowner. 
Moreover, afforestation for the State is to be regarded 
not merely as a national investment, but also as a national 
insurance against timber famine. And since it is for 
the benefit of the community in general, the community 
as a whole, and not the individual, should bear the 
burden. 
In view of the current state of the money market 
and the probability of the high value of money being 
maintained for some time after the war, it is extremely 
