XXII 
Appendix No. 1. 
Forest. And they urge emphatically that if deep-drainage is continued to 
be pursued, the entire character of the fauna and flora of the Forest 
must inevitably undergo a most considerable change. 
II. 
The Teachings of Botany as to the Management of Forests. 
By Professor G. S. Boulger, F.L.S., F.G.S. 
In England there has long been a most erroneous idea as to the meaning 
of the word Forestry. Our woodlands have been looked upon in the main 
as game-preserves, or as merely costly ornaments to a residential estate. 
The country was in early times cleared of its very general forest-growth, 
as indicated by the word “field,” i.e., “felled” clearing, except in those 
parts, such as the New Bed Sandstone conglomerates of Sherwood and 
Trentham, the Eocene sands and clays of South Hampshire, and the 
gravels of Epping, where the geological nature of the soil rendered it 
worthless, at least in early times, for agricultural purposes. The growth 
of timber for profit in England has been mainly conducted in small 
artificial plantations not managed according to the natural method. This 
natural method consists in growing together trees of different ages, and 
merely substituting the annual felling of mature timber for the natural 
fall of aged and decayed trees. The reproduction is by seeding, or, failing 
that, by individual planting from a nursery. On the other hand, felling by 
compartments, all the trees in each compartment being of one age, and 
thus clearing the land periodically, is an extravagant and unnatural 
method, necessitating entire reliance on planting. As has been often 
shown, after a fire or other clearing, an entirely distinct group of trees will 
spring up, and when these are cleared a third kind, and so on; and con¬ 
tinental experience has proved the growth of a forest to become in this 
way very irregular and uncertain as a source of revenue. Trees do not 
absolutely require felling, if not grown for profit, the struggle for existence 
and the death of aged trees securing the health of the survivors. It may 
be taken for granted that where trees have flourished for centuries the best 
policy, where no increase of income is sought for, is to leave them alone. 
Where, however, it is desired to plant tracts not at present under wood¬ 
land, it may be necessary in some cases to prepare the land for the 
purpose. There is an apparent conflict of opinion on the important 
question of draining. Thus an experienced English forester, Mr. Lewis 
Bayne, writes, “Draining of young plantations is a course of prepara¬ 
tion that cannot safely be dispensed with. Where the ground is naturally 
dry, light, and friable, such preliminary operation may be dispensed with; 
and, indeed, further loosening or draining may, in certain circumstances, 
be detrimental rather than favourable to the plants.” Again, Brown, the 
author of ‘ The Forester,’ referring especially to diseases of the larch, says, 
“ To the want of draining may be attributed most cases of unhealthiness 
in plantations for forty years past;” and Mr. Grig or writes, “ In Scottish 
moorlands more plants, perhaps, have been lost by being inserted into 
ground too wet than by any other cause, and it is seldom tha,t any consi¬ 
derable extent of ground is found adapted for plantation without some 
parts requiring to be drained.” On the other hand, the late Professor 
Bagneris, of Nancy, a great authority, wrote, “ As for draining, except in 
cases of stagnant pools, it must be resorted to with great moderation. A 
few ditches judiciously dug ensure sufficient drainage, for it must not be 
forgotten that our most valuable species delight in very moist and even wet 
soils, e. g., the pedunculate oak, ash, elm, hornbeam, spruce fir, and 
alder. This has been sometimes forgotten, Whenever the water is not 
