however, has been in the field of plantation experiments, dealing mainly with peat and other difficult soil conditions. Four centres have been established, of which two are in England and Wales and two in Scotland, and a wide range of experiments is in progress from which results of much practical value are anticipated. Methods of planting spruce on peat which have proved successful on a small scale are now being applied more extensively in practice.

Entomological. Further progress has been made on the lifehistory of forest pests; in particular, valuable work has been done on the cockchafer, three species of which are found to occur commonly. Satisfactory methods of control have been devised for intensive work, but their applicability to large-scale operations has yet to be determined.

Botanical.-Investigations

were continued at certain Universities assisted by grants from the Forestry Commission. Edinburgh (Dr. M. Wilson and Mr. J. S. L. Waldie).-Researches into fungus diseases.

Aberdeen (Messrs. E. V. Laing and G. K. Fraser).-Ecological investigations into tree growth on peat. Chemical and physical properties of peat.

Bangor (Mr. T. Thomson).-Effect of seasonal conditions upon diameter growth of Douglas fir.

Utilisation.-Enquiries and experiments are being carried out in collaboration with the Forest Products Research Laboratory, into the uses of coniferous thinnings as pit props and of inferior oak for various purposes.

Sub-head J.-Agency and Advisory Services: Expenditure: Gross, £2,001; Net, £1,401.

No direct expenditure was incurred under this head, the item £2,001 representing the time of various officers of the Commission, who have been engaged in answering enquiries and advising owners of woodlands as to the treatment of their woods.

The sum of £554 was received from the Board of Trade in respect of the Census of Production, 1924, of which the Commissioners are conducting the forestry section.

Sub-head K.-Special Services: Expenditure: £4,399.
Table K.-Analysis of Special Services.

The figures relating to Ireland (during 1920-23) are omitted.

Publications. During the year under review the Commissioners issued the following publications :

Bulletin No. 7.-The Silver Fir Chermes.
Bulletin No. 8.-British Bark-Beetles.

Leaflet No. 14.-The Phomopsis Disease of Conijers. Sixth Annual Report of the Forestry Commissioners, being the report for the year ending 30th September, 1925. In addition leaflets Nos. 2 (Chermes Cooleyi) and 9 (Forest Fires) were revised.

Exhibits at Agricultural Shows.-Forestry exhibits were sent by the Commissioners to the shows of the Royal Agricultural Society at Reading, the Bath and West Society at Watford, the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society at Bangor, and the Highland and Agricultural Society at Kelso.

British Association for the Advancement of Science.-The Commissioners again took an active part in the organisation of the Forestry Sub-section of the annual meeting, which was held at Oxford. Many papers covering a wide range of subjects were read and forestry excursions were made to woods in the neighbourhood.

World's Forestry Congress, Rome.-The Commissioners were represented at this Congress, organised by the International Institute of Agriculture, which was held in Rome during May, 1926. The Congress was attended by delegates from about sixty Governments and by representatives from scientific institutions and forestry associations. One of the most important subjects discussed was the collection of statistics. regarding the world's timber resources, and a resolution was passed urging the necessity for setting up an international organisation for dealing with this work.

Census of British Woodlands.-Particulars are given below in respect of the counties which were completed during the year, viz., 37 in England and Wales and one in Scotland. This investigation has since been completed and a report embodying the statistics obtained is now in course of preparation.

Scotland. Perth

7.3

39,221 12,371 7,683 2,841 22,506 | 27,615 4,607 116,844 23.6

Consultative Committees.

The Consultative Committees for England, Scotland and Wales each held a meeting in the spring of 1926. Certain members of the English and Welsh Committees paid a visit of inspection in July to various parts of Thetford Chase.

Formal references were submitted by the Commissioners to the Committees for their advice and assistance in the following matters:

(1) The manufacture of sectional houses from small oak, &c.

(2) Prospective areas for State afforestation.

The following subjects were discussed by some of the Committees and suggestions thereon were sent to the Commission :(a) Afforestation grants.

(b) Forestry propaganda and publicity.

(c) Forestry exhibits at agricultural shows.

The Commissioners regret to report the deaths of Mr. James Whitton on the 30th October, 1925, of Sir John Gladstone, Bart., on the 25th June, 1926, and of the Earl of Chichester on the 14th November, 1926.

The undermentioned were appointed or reappointed members of the respective Committees as from the 25th March, 1926, in accordance with Section 1 (3) of the Forestry (Consultative Committees) Order, 1920:

England.

Colonel Sir George L. Courthope, Bart., M.C., M.P. (Chairman).

Colonel The Earl of Chichester, O.B.E., D.L., J.P. (Vice-Chairman)-since deceased.

Percy Barker, Esq.

E. Callaway, Esq.

J. S. Corbett, Esq.

W. Cundiff, Esq.

H. L. French, Esq., C.B., O.B.E.

E. C. Horton, Esq., O.B.E.

Brigadier-Gen. H. G. J. de Lotbinière, D.S.O.

A. F. Luttrell, Esq.

Hugh Morrison, Esq., M.P.

Major The Hon. Harold Pearson.

Colonel B. J. Petre.

T. Roberts, Esq.

Major S. Strang Steel, M.P.

Christopher H. Turnor, Esq.

J. W. Watt, Esq.

Major Sir Granville Wheler, Bart., C.B.E., M.P.

T. Williams, Esq., M.P.

Leslie S. Wood, Esq., F.S.I.

Secretary: F. W. Hamilton, Esq.

Scotland.

Sir Hugh Shaw Stewart, Bart., C.B. (Chairman).
Brigadier-Gen. Stirling of Keir (Vice-Chairman).
F. R. S. Balfour, Esq.

William Black, Esq.

Gilbert Brown, Esq.

Sir James C. Calder, C.B.E.
Sir Isaac Connell, S.S.C.
Robert Galloway, Esq., S.S.C.

Sir John Gladstone, Bart. (since deceased).
Sir Robert Greig, M.C., LI.D.

J. H. Milne Home, Esq.
George Leven, Esq.

Sir Robert Lorimer.

H. L. Macdonald, Esq.

Sir Kenneth J. Mackenzie, Bart.

James MacLaren, Esq.

J. Matson, Esq., C.B.E.

P. McIntyre, Esq.

Donald Munro, Esq., O.B.E.

Joseph F. Rennie, Esq., F.S.I.

James Scott, Esq., S.S.C.

Professor W. W. Smith.

Right Hon. The Earl of Stair, D.S.O.

Secretary: G. R. Ditchburn, Esq.

Wales.

Right Hon. Lord Kenyon, K.C.V.O. (Chairman). Colonel F. D. W. Drummond, C.B.E., D.L. (ViceChairman).

Right Hon. The Earl of Powis, D.L., J.P.

L. R. Pym, Esq.

D. C. Roberts, Esq.

J. Roberts, Esq.

Major-General A. E. Sandbach, C.B., D.S.O.

J. I. Storrar, Esq.

C. D. Thompson, Esq., J.P.

Thomas Thomson, Esq.

R. W. Treseder, Esq.

Colonel Charles Venables-Llewelyn, D.L., J.P.
Colonel Sir H. L. Watkin Williams-Wynn, Bart., C.B.

Percy Wilkinson, Esq.

Secretary: F. W. Hamilton, Esq.