Cost of Planting.-The outlay per acre on labour and material on the area planted between 1919 and 1927 was as follows :— These figures include the cost of preparation of ground, drainage, Forest Fires.-During the year 104 fires occurred, affecting 563 acres. The damage done was estimated at £2,073, the amount recoverable being £120. Of the total number of fires, 38 were caused by sparks from railway engines. Nurseries. The total area under nurseries at 30th September, 1927, was 730 acres stocked with 213 million seedlings and 115 million transplants. Comparative figures for the three years 1925-27 are given in the following table : Seed Supply.-The Sitka spruce crop of the autumn of 1926 was very good both in Canada and the United States of America but only small supplies of Douglas fir seed were available and these were of poor quality. Seed of European species such as larch, Norway spruce and Corsican pine was plentiful and of good quality but Japanese larch failed completely. As regards home-collected seed, oak, chestnut, ash and beech gave good crops and in Scotland a considerable quantity of larch was obtained. Scots pine cones were not so plentiful as in the autumn of 1925 but sufficient seed was obtained to meet the Commission's requirements. The quantity of seed sold during the year amounted to 3,577 lbs. The Commissioners have to express their gratitude for gifts of seed from the Hon. Charles Lathrop Pack, the Hon. Henry D. Maclaren and the forest authorities of France and Canada. Sub-Head F.-Advances for Afforestation Purposes: Of the total expenditure, £2,823 was in respect of overhead and supervisory charges and £2,028 was in respect of a proceedssharing scheme. The remainder, viz., £11,982, was in respect of grants to private individuals and local authorities for planting and scrub clearing. The grants were as follows: (1) Conifers.-Up to £2 per acre for every acre planted and thereafter maintained as a forest crop. (2) Hardwoods.-Up to £4 per acre planted with approved species and thereafter maintained as an area for the production of hardwoods. (3) Clearance of Scrub, &c.-Up to £1 per acre (in exceptional cases up to £2 per acre) for every acre cleared. Limited to selected schemes involving not less than 50 acres. Particulars of the schemes in respect of which grants were paid during the year are given in the Table below: Sub-head G.-Education: Expenditure: Gross, £9,513; Net, £9,406. Details of expenditure and income are given in Table G below: £ £ 103 96 £ £ 199 21,345 1,396 10,961 ... 1,617 1,614 311 4,202 163 1,287 2,598 11,792 1,258 252 1,510 10,282 324 7,919 Apprentices' Schools: Expenditure, Gross, £4,143; Net, £4,036. During the year 49 forest apprentices were undergoing courses of instruction in the schools at Parkend (Forest of Dean) and at Beaufort (Inverness-shire). At the final qualifying examination 19 men who had successfully completed the two years' course were granted certificates of proficiency. Grants to Universities and Colleges: Expenditure, £4,135.The following Universities and Colleges received grants during the year :-Oxford University; Cambridge University; University College of North Wales, Bangor; Aberdeen University; Edinburgh and East of Scotland College of Agriculture. These centres provide courses of training for forest officers and also forestry courses for those engaged in allied occupations such as estate management and agriculture. The number of students who were studying forestry during the period under review was 121. The number of forestry degrees granted was 32, and 4 candidates were successful in gaining forestry diplomas. Imperial Forestry Institute: Expenditure, £2,000.-The Imperial Forestry Institute is financed from the Forestry Fund to the extent of £2,000 per annum for a period of five years from October, 1924. The contribution from the Colonial Governments was originally fixed at £3,000, but was subsequently increased to provide for special work in which the Colonies are particularly interested. The number of students who attended the various courses of study for the whole or part of the Academic year 1926-7 was 32. These included post-graduate probationers, Great Britain 1, India 3, South Africa 2, Colonial Services 6; Forest Officers on leave, India 2, Colonial Services 14; private students 4. Sub-head H.-Research and Experiment: Expenditure: Details of expenditure are stated in Table H below:- Work on research and experiment has continued on the same lines as in previous years. Production.-In England and Wales 28 plots have been remeasured and 4 new plots established during the year, while 18 plots have been re-measured and 5 new plots established in Scotland. At The gale in January, 1927, did considerable damage to sample plots in Scotland, Douglas fir being the species to suffer most. The number of plots lost owing to this storm was eight. 30th September, 1927, there were 158 plots of which 85 were in England and Wales and 73 in Scotland. Out of the total number, 48 plots have been measured once, 89 twice and 21 three times or more. |