ADVANTAGES OF PLANTING 25 



become a duty — a national duty — to see that every 

 acre of land in this country is made to bring in the 

 best return possible in the interests of the comnftinity 

 as a whole. Well, there exists a considerable acreage 

 of land which experts are agreed is not bringing in 

 anything like an adequate return. This land can be 

 made to grow produce which is in great demand in 

 the country, and which in the absence of home-grown 

 supplies necessitates large imports which have to be 

 paid for, and which are going to be more expensive 

 in the future. The aspect of the forestry problem 

 has entirely changed from its pre-war position. The 

 prices for timber are not likely to fall to their former 

 level. So long as prices were low there was a good 

 deal to be said for those who were against afforesta- 

 tion in this country. The arguments they urged had 

 a certain element of soundness, as, e.g., the contention 

 that forestry would not return even the 2^ to 3 per 

 cent, claimed for it. The Great War has swept away 

 such doubts and arguments. Prices have gone up 

 and the nation is now assured of successful financial 

 results from its afforesting work. On all counts the 

 planting of this land will be of immense advantage to 

 us. It will save imports, employ labour, and help 

 home industries. In the last connection it will do 

 more than help. It will result in establishing new 

 ones. For the maintenance of a considerable area of 

 forest in a country leads to the establishment of sub- 

 sidiary industries such as paper-pulp mills, saw mills, 

 bobbin mills, furniture manufactories and so on. And 

 these afford employment to a considerable head of 

 population. 



