MORE TREES.
Incidentally, last week I suggested that many of the derelict lands might be afforested with deciduous trees, especially ash and sycamore. A few days after that was written I heard of two farms where this policy is to be adopted ; and have had some astonishing evidence of the number of landowners who are making inquiries of the Forestry Com- mission and other experts on the subject. The difficulties as well as the opportunities of this solution arc being much discussed. 'Weeds are the chief trouble. If you plant small trees in farm soil they are apt to vanish completely under thistles, willowherb, hawkweed, pellitory, cocksfoot, knapweed, and the rest. The expense of cleaning round the trees is too great for those who are afforesting for cheapness' sake and because they cannot endure the losses of an arable farm. Besides the weeds the trees may be further choked like the garden of Eden by thorns and briars. The problem, then, is to find sorts of trees that either grow fast enough to get their heads above the weeds or are so constitutionally strong that they do not mind being overgrown.
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