858 Afforestation in Denmark, Holland, etc. [feb., 



private woodlands, and no difficulty of competition between the State 

 and individuals need be apprehended. 



The acquisition of grazing areas, private or common, for sylviculture 

 might necessitate a modification of the existing agricultural system on 

 certain farms. It is unreasonable to suppose that the remaining 

 lowland areas on such farms could not, in many cases, either be 

 adapted to other forms of agriculture, or be profitably utilised for 

 small holdings. Further, the conversion of comparatively unprofitable 

 lands into forests enhances the productiveness of the adjacent areas, 

 and should materially assist the small holdings movement. It has 

 also the advantage of furnishing winter employment to small holders. 



In view of the foregoing conclusions, the Commission 



recommend that 



(1) Parliamentary powers be obtained to : — 



(a) Appoint Commissioners charged with the duty of carrying out 

 a national scheme of afforestation ; 



(b) Vest in them power to survey and determine what land falls 

 under a statutory definition of " suitability," and to acquire such land 

 as from time to time may be required for afforestation or purposes 

 incidental thereto; 



(c) Equip the Commissioners with compulsory powers for the 

 acquisition of such land on the precedent of the Small Holdings Act, 

 1907, so far as applicable, subject to the reservation of certain rights to 

 private owners ; 



(d) Authorise the Treasury to grant the Commissioners an annual 

 free loan for the necessary period. 



2. (a) The Commissioners should prepare a general scheme of 

 afforestation for the whole of the contemplated area extending over 

 the entire period of rotation ; 



(b) An actuarial statement should be supplied by them to the 

 Treasury, indicating when and in what manner the loan and interest 

 would be repaid ; 



(c) The afforestable area should be divided into convenient 

 sub-districts ; 



(d) Work should be commenced in each, or as many as convenient, 

 of the districts in such a way as to provide that the earlier operations, 

 which may' be regarded as experimental, should be capable of 

 determination or of forming part of the complete forest scheme for each 

 district. 



The Board of Agriculture and Fisheries have been supplied 

 through the Foreign Office with some information, of which 

 a summary is given below, respecting 

 Afforestation of Waste the afforestation of waste lands in Den- 

 Lands in Denmark, mark, Holland, France, and Belgium. 

 Holland, France, and This information was originally ob- 

 Belgium. tained at the request of the Irish 



Department of Agriculture on behalf 

 of the Irish Forestry Committee. 



