mean land covered with timber trees, but a “certain territory of woody grounds and fruitful pastures, privileged for wild beasts and fowles of the forest to rest and abide in,” in “the protection of the King for his princely delight and pleasure.”  It was subject to special jurisdiction, and special officers were appointed over it “to the end that it may the better be preserved and kept for a place of recreation and pastime meet for the royal dignity of a prince.”  The Forest Laws were oppressive, and for the purpose of afforestation many wrongs were committed.  In the Crown forests, like Epping Forest and the New Forest, there were a number of commoners who had special rights of pasture and of taking certain things from the forest, such as firewood “that might do them good.”  It is by the assertion of such ancient rights of common that Epping Forest has been preserved as a place of recreation for the people of East London, and that so much of the New Forest remains open land.  The latter is a source of perennial enjoyment to those who visit it, and maintains the successors of the old forest commoners in prosperity, due largely to the fact that they can graze ponies there and feed pigs on the acorns and beechmast.  Whatever steps are taken to promote the growth of timber—­and much has been done from time to time in the New Forest with that object—­it is important that these valuable common rights should be preserved, and that the value of open lands for the health and recreation of the people should not be overlooked.

The need for systematic action and for the Government to take steps to promote the growth of timber in the United Kingdom has been pointed out from time to time.  The Board of Agriculture in 1911 drew up a memorandum pointing out that “British forestry was far behind that of other leading European States,” and that “the growing of timber had never in this country been recognised as a business”; that “there had been no continuity of policy with regard to it.”  When the War broke out it appears that only eight per cent, of the total amount of timber required for home use was grown in the United Kingdom, ninety-two per cent, had to be brought from oversea.  The War showed how perilous and how costly a thing it is to neglect home production of necessaries.

When all our shipping was required for other purposes, it was a most serious matter to take up tonnage with a cargo so bulky as timber, occupying probably more ship space in proportion to its value than any other.  More timber was required for huts and sheds, for railway sleepers, and a variety of other purposes.  For the construction of aircraft special kinds of timber were needed.  The demand for pit props in enormous quantities was urgent and continuous.  At the same time the loss of shipping through submarine action became very serious.  Fortunately our French Allies had been more provident in conserving and promoting their home supplies.  Forestry in France had been