VI 



BRITAIN AND EUROPE'S TIMBER REQUIREMENTS 



The termination of the war has by no jneans ended 

 our timber di:f&culties. 



It had been estimated about the time the Armis- 

 tice was signed that we had left in Great Britain 

 suppHes of coniferous timber, at the then rate of 

 consumption, to carry us to the end of 1919 — ^the 

 present year ; pit-wood supphes for another six 

 years, and hard woods for six to j;en years. 



And we and Europe have to face the reconstruc- 

 tion ,period not only at home, but in the devastated 

 areas ! 



Contrast our position with that of our ally, France. 

 She has possessed a well-organized Forestry Depart- 

 ment for many years. She has had to fell heavily in 

 her forests during the war. But these forests were 

 under scientific management. The lines of export 

 for the extraction of the material were in existenee 

 or were foreseen. The felling work could be carried 

 out on an organized basis. 



It was a very different position from our hap- 

 hazard and extravagant — of necessity haphazard 

 and extravagant — methods.. In the utter absence 

 of all system in the growth of our woods, the marvel 



79 ! 



