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 carefully
fostered by the Government. To take one example alone, the Landes, the
district near the coast between Bordeaux and Bayonne, which had once
been a region of dreary marsh, shifting sand, or scanty pasture, had
been turned into splendid forest by wise forethought a century ago, and
yielded great supplies of valuable timber. Science has pointed out many
ways in which small and waste wood also can be used for the production
of a number of substances necessary in peace and still more urgently