September 27, 1894. 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
287 
A ccording to some authorities British forestry is not in a 
particularly flourishing condition, and it was therefore 
gratifying to observe the efforts made by the Royal Horticultural 
Society to nquire into this important question, inviting the opinions 
of well known practitioners on the subject. This forward movement 
was in the form of a conference held in conjunction with an 
exhibition on Tuesday last, reported on another page, in the large 
vinery at Chiswick Gardens, and inaugurated primarily with the 
object of drawing public attention to the ornament and utility of 
native trees and shrubs. So far as the weather was concerned, 
however, the gathering could not possibly have been held under 
more unfavourable conditions, rain falling more or less all the day, 
which doubtless accounted for the small attendance. Notwith¬ 
standing this and other drawbacks, it could be seen that the com¬ 
mendable work of the Society was appreciated by those present, 
and great interest was evinced in the two essays that were read. 
It would have been better, though, and probably given greater 
satisfaction, had the proceedings been carried out as printed in 
the programme ; but apparently time and other circumstances 
did not permit of this being accomplished. Mr. W. T. Thiselton 
Dyer, the Director of the Royal Gardens, Kew, presided during 
the first part of the meeting, and was followed by Sir Alexander 
John Arbuthnot. 
The Conference was opened by the reading of a paper on “ The 
Utilisation of Waste Ground Unsuitable for Agriculture ” by Mr. 
J. Simpson. As a forester of some repute it was anticipated the 
writer of that essay would embrace much useful information in his 
remarks, and those who expected this were not disappointed. In 
introducing his subject Mr. Simpson deplored the fact, with which 
most of us must agree, that generally speaking the production of 
Oak, Ash, and other timber was almost a thing of the past in this 
country, and strongly recommended large landowners to utilise 
waste land for that purpose. He stated that the cost of keeping 
British forests in proper condition was much greater than it ought 
to be ; this, to a certain extent, lowering the prices realised for 
home-grown timber. As in horticulture so apparently in sylvi¬ 
culture, for it was asserted that foreign timber arrived 
here in assorted sizes, consequently is placed on the market 
in excellent condition. With regard to the suitability 
of various soils for growing timber, it was pointed out 
that the inexperienced might often acquire knowledge in this 
respect by observing the natural vegetation of the neighbourhood. 
The essayist said he did not agree with the wholesale thinning of 
undergrowth, and remarked that shelter and warmth were essential 
for the production of good timber. At the same time he observed 
how certain trees flourished on Wharncliffe Chase, a tract of land 
known to the present writer, and situated about 1000 feet above 
the level of the sea, the soil being very poor. It was mentioned 
that even in the fissure of a rock an Oak tree with a stem 12 feet 
in circumference was growing, this supporting the assertion that 
while a deep rooting medium is advisable it may not be absolutely 
necessary for growing trees. Reference was also made to the 
mounds of coal pit refuse that abound in the locality, and on 
which timber trees grew when other plants failed. 
Although recommending the planting of waste ground with 
timber-producing trees Mr. Simpson did not appear towards the 
No. 744.—VoL. XXIX., Third Series. 
end of his paper to hold out much encouragement to the under¬ 
taking from a commercial point of view. He referred to an 
instance where 20,000 cubic feet of timber had been sold, the 
middleman procuring Id. per foot in the transaction, while he 
doubted whether the producer had as much as that after paying 
for felling and clearing, and even this price would not have been 
realised had the consignor resided far from the railway station. This 
is surely an exception to the rule. Among others the Ash, Oak, 
and Beech were stated as being useful trees, the latter producing 
timber sooner than any other. Some tables and statistics were at 
this point included in the essay, but unfortunately these were not 
read, which is a matter for regret, inasmuch as they doubtless 
contained information of a most serviceable character. Mr. Simpson 
concluded that the wants of trees were few and simple, but he 
thought too much of the landscape gardener’s work was apparent 
in British woodlands. He recommended the planting of young 
trees because they were cheaper than larger ones, and, moreover, 
grew better, the operation being, in his opinion, best done from 
the middle of November to December. In the brief discussion 
which followed Mr. A. D. Webster said he did not agree with the 
latter statement, remarking that according to his experience spring 
planting was decidedly the better plan, and urged intending 
planters to consider the importance of this, particularly in mountain 
districts. Mr. Dyer drew attention to the great difference in the 
management of forests in this country to those abroad, and 
doubted the advisability of recommending private landowners 
attempting to grow timber for commercial purposes only. 
Considering the remote chances of realising a remunerative price 
for the timber, and this only after a long period, it is not surpris¬ 
ing that other persons were of the same opinion. 
Mr. A. C. Forbes’ paper on “The General Management of 
Woods,” was, so far as could be ascertained, of an interesting and 
practical nature, though at the time it was read the audience was 
small. The necessity of thinning woods, with hints as to planting 
and managing coppices and hedgerows, were detailed, but some 
of the remarks were inaudible to many persons present. Expres¬ 
sions of regret were also heard that the papers on “ The Larch 
Disease,” by Mr. J. B. Carruthers, and “ Forest Trees for Com¬ 
mercial Purposes,” by Mr. E. J. Baillie, were not read, these being 
considered of even greater importance in some respects than the 
essays discoursed. As Mr. Bunyard wisely pointed out, land- 
owners must be guided by circumstances in planting trees with a 
view to profit, the demand for produce varying considerably. 
For instance, in Kent—where they seldom plant for timber—Hop 
poles were once much in demand, but to a great extent they have 
been discarded for wire and string, to which the growths were 
trained. Sir Alexander J. Arbuthnot thought that although the 
present events were anything but encouraging to landowners, the 
re-afforestation of waste lands was a subject worthy of the 
consideration of our legislators, with which we concur. 
As affording evidence of the value of judiciously planting waste 
land with trees, and thus strongly supporting Mr. Simpson’s con¬ 
tention, we publish the following letter, which we received just 
previous to the holding of the Conference, from Mr. J. Brasier, 
forester on the Lincolnshire estate of Major R. N. Sutton 
Nelthorpe, who writes;—“ I am sending you two specimens of 
Larch, one the top of a tree planted in 1889, that is this year’s 
growth ; the other a seedling planted in 1893. I began to hold 
trees for Mr. J. Wright (father of the Journal Wright) to plant 
in 1841. The plantation below the Pond Head was planted by 
Mr. J. Wright in 1851, and felled by me in 1893. There were 
Larches in it with 42 feet of wood, which made Is. per foot, bought 
by Mr. Garside, Worksop. There are now scores of Larch trees on 
the estate with 40 feet in them planted from 1851-5. Oldham’s 
plantation was planted 1851 2, we have felled it, and the sales 
made £2700. Several of the trees in it were from 20 to 30 feet. 
The Corsican Pine had 40 feet in it, and nothing will grow there 
No. 2400.— VoL. XCL, Old Series. 
