Accepting these figures as a basis for estimating the supply for 

 the whole of England and Wales, the total amount " planned for 

 felling " becomes : 



Tons. Tons. 



Pine . 803,410) 



Larch 1,530,700 > Total conifers ... 2,519,880 



Spruce ... ... 185,770 J 



Hardwoods 311,920 



Total .. 2,831,800 



This quantity is equivalent to 33 weeks' normal supply for the 

 collieries ; but, as in estimating the quantities of pit- wood standing 

 in the woods, it would be safer to reduce this figure by one-third. 

 We may therefore put the quantity planned for felling at 1,888,000 

 tons or 22 weeks' normal supply, making with the amount already 

 felled some 24 weeks' supply in all. 



(c.) Remarks of a general character. 



Generally there appears to be a tendency on the part of owners 

 of woods to hold back supplies until there is a rise in prices of 

 standing timber, or until the need for pit-wood becomes more urgent. 

 This tendency is of course more marked in the case of estates with 

 poorer grades of pit timber and situated more remotely from the 

 coalfields. The knowledge that there was a possibility of railway 

 rates* being reduced also had the effect of holding back supplies. 

 On the other hand, certain owners of estates drawing royalties 

 from mines are felling pit timber recklessly, without regard to the 

 future of their woods. 



3. Is the Rate at ivhich Supplies are coming forward satisfactory ? 



The term " satisfactory " was intended to indicate the relation 

 between the amount of felling actually being done and the capacity 

 of the particular estate to fell. 



Out of 134 estates visited, 72, representing 105,250 acres of 

 woods, were returned as " satisfactory," 12 estates, representing 

 12,440 acres, fell into an intermediate class, while 50 estates, 

 representing 50,820 acres, were returned as " unsatisfactory " or 

 " no felling." 



After the enquiry had proceeded for a few days an attempt was 

 made to ascertain more definitely the rate at which supplies can 

 be placed on rail, and a supplementary form was issued enquiring 

 "At what rate (in tons and days) can timber be felled and hauled 

 to station with labour and teams at present available?" Considerable 

 difficulty was experienced in getting satisfactory replies. In the 

 first place the supply of teams is dependent on the demands of 

 other work on the estate, and in the second place haulage is 

 frequently done by timber merchants who move their teams or 

 traction engines from estate to estate. 



The question of railway rates is discussed later on pages 11, 14. 



