One of the English authorities on the subject writes still in 1900: “With so much land of poor quality lying uncultivated in many parts of the British Isles, the apathy shown towards forestry in Britain is one of the things that it is impossible to understand.” If we should venture to seek for an explanation, we would find it in geographical and physical conditions, but still more in personal and political characteristics, historically developed, such as also in the United States make progress of forestry slower than it would otherwise be. Due to her insular position with which in part the development of her naval supremacy is connected, England can readily supply her needs by importations. Situated within the influence of the Gulf stream, the climate is much milder than her northern location would indicate, and is in no respect excessive. The topography is mostly gentle, except in Scotland and Wales, and the riverflow even all the year. Hence the absence of forestcover has not been felt in its physical influences. Britons, Picts, Scots, Scandinavians, Anglo-Saxons and Normans are the elements which have amalgamated to make the English people. Through endless warfare and political struggle the three countries, England, Scotland and Ireland had, by the year 1600, come under one ruler, although final legislative union with Scotland did not take place until 1707, and with Ireland not until 1800. Theoretically, forming a constitutional monarchy, practically, an aristocracy with republican tendencies, the history of the islands has been a struggle, first to establish race supremacy, then to secure the ascendency of the nobility and landholders over the king and the commoners, in which the former have been more successful than the barons in other parts of Europe. Politically, the Englishman is an individualist, jealous of his private interests and unwilling to submit to government interference for the public welfare. Hence, State forestry, which is finally the only solution of the forestry problem, appears objectionable. Commercial and industrial enterprise rather than economic development appeals to him; the practical issue of the day rather than demands of a future and systematic preparation for the same occupy his mind. He lacks, as Mr. Roseberry points out, scientific method, and hence is wasteful. Moreover, he is conservative and self-satisfied beyond the citizens of any other nation, hence if all the wisdom of the world point new ways, he will still cling to his accustomed ones. In the matter of having commissions appointed to investigate and report, and leaving things to continue in unsatisfactory condition he reminds one of Spanish dilatoriness. These would appear to us the reasons for the difficulty which the would-be reformers experience in bringing about economic reforms. 1. _Forest Conditions._