will have to be paid. During the years 1890 to 1896 there has 

 been an increase in price equal to 17 per cent., and if we take 

 coniferous woods only, the increase is equal to 30 per cent, during 

 the same period. In fact, so far as timber is concerned, the world 

 has been living greatly on its capital, and not upon its production 

 alone. Vast areas of forests have been destroyed, or their ptoduce 

 converted into timber, and countries which have been, large 

 exporters are finding themselves to be in danger of shortage for 

 their own requirements. 



According to the Report on Irish Forestry, the area under 

 timber in 1907 in England was equal to 5"3 per cent., Scotland 4'6 

 per cent., Wales 3'9 per cent., and Ireland only I'S per cent. 

 Whereas in Austria the area under timber was equal to 32 per cent., 

 Hungary 27 per cent., France 17 per cent., Belgium 17 per cent., 

 Germany 26 per cent., Holland 8 per cent., and Denmark 7 per 

 cent. Compared with other countries we occupy an unenviable 

 position, a continuance of which cannot be justified. 



Of the timber we import at the present time, 87 per cent, are 

 pine and fir. 3 per cent, oak, and 10 per cent, teak, mahogany, and 

 other furniture woods. Hence 90 per cent., or nine million tons, 

 are material which can be produced in this country by the afforesta- 

 tion of six or seven million acres of land.' The total value of our 

 imports to-day cannot be far short of 30 million pounds. The 

 expenditure of only a reasonable sum of this money at home on 

 afforestation would mean employment for a considerable number 

 of our unemployed in digging, trenching, planting, &c. Some 

 experts are of opinion that every 1,000 acres of added forest would 

 provide work for about 16 men, representing a population of 80 

 persons. This is without taking into account those that would 

 ultimately be employed in the transport of the produce, and in the 

 various industries — chair making, cartwrighting, coach building, 

 furniture making. Hacking box making, the making of bobbins, 

 spools, tool handles, and timber for building trades and railway 

 companies — which regularly managed woodlands generally give 

 rise to. It is estimated that 2,500 acres of sheep land are looked 

 after by one shepherd, whereas under forestry one man to about 

 100 acres would be employed, or in other words, 20 men in place 

 of one. The estimates do not vary to any great 'extent, and all go 

 to prove that forestry on an adequate scale will provide a great 

 deal of employment, and that is one of its principal advantages to 

 a country. 



Up to this point several important particulars have been 

 brought home to us. First, that land in this country under all 

 heads is going out of cultivation, and that we are far behind other 

 European countries in this respect; second, that we are threateaed 

 with a timber famine, and, therefore, a steady increase in the price 

 of the timber we require ; and, third, that afforestation, especially in , 

 fiduitinction with a scheiue of smdi holdings, tvould provide labotif 



