THE SYSTEMATIC AFFORESTATION OF GREAT BRITAIN. 287 



thoroughly chopped up by the spade, was placed in the bottom of 

 the pit and covered with a small quantity of soil. By so doing the 

 pits were left ready for the reception of the young trees, and by the 

 time that the whole of the ground was so treated the first-opened 

 holes and soil had received the benefit of their exposure to the weather. 

 Tree-planting was carried out by the same staff of workmen, with 

 the aid of boys for holding the plants and keeping them in an upright 

 position while the roots were being covered with soil. Here a good 

 deal of supervision was necessary, not only to ensure that the plants 

 were well headed to the prevailing wind, but that the strongest roots 

 were spread out in the same direction and covered to a proper depth 

 with firmly tramped soil. 



Briefly, the systematic afforestation of Great Britain may be 

 summarized as follows : — 



1. Government Scheme. — To plant in all 1,770,000 acres over a 

 period of eighty years ; 1,180,000 acres being dealt with during the 

 first forty years, or at the rate of 295,000 acres per annum. The 

 total cost is put down as £15,000,000, or at the rate of £8 16s. $d. 

 an acre. 



My proposed scheme. — As a commencement it is proposed to 

 plant 1,000,000 acres over a period of twenty-five years, at the rate 

 of 40,000 acres a year. The cost of so doing will approximate £290,000 

 per annum, or £7,500,000 for the whole scheme. 



The subdivision of this area and expense would be for : 



2. Choice of land for afforesting. — This to be as near the consuming 

 centre as possible, taking into account quality of soil, accessibility, 

 and existing conveniences for the removal of timber. 



3. Laying off and fencing the boundaries. — The form of outline 

 should be laid out with due regard to the prevailing wind and with 

 a convex side presented to it, the boundaries being made as short 

 as possible, all unnecessary curves and corners being avoided on 

 the score of economy in fencing. 



4. Preparation of the surface. — Rough-growing vegetation, but 

 only such as would impede planting operations, should be removed. 

 Drainage, as little as is competent with the healthy growth of the 

 trees, should be permitted. 



5. Planting and trees to be used. — On account of cheapness slit 

 or notch planting wherever possible should be engaged in. The best 

 trees to plant are such as will produce the greatest quantity of the 

 most valuable timber in the shortest space of time. 



Summary. 



England 

 Scotland 

 Wales . 

 Ireland 



200,000 

 400,000 

 250,000 

 150,000 



Acres. 



Cost. 

 £l,500,000 

 £3,000,000 

 £1,875,000 

 £1,125,000 



