At present there are some 115,000 acres classed as royal forest, but only 67,000 acres are really forest, consisting of more or less mismanaged woods, under the administration, not forest management, of the Commissioners of Woods and Forests, with Deputy Surveyors in charge of the ranges. Although there are a few notable exceptions in the management, it is to be noted that the same stupid ignorance, which introduced the clause into the Constitution of the State of New York, was enacted into law in 1877 by the English Parliament, forbidding in the New Forest all cutting and planting. In 1900, there existed just one planting plan, made by a professional forester, namely, for a portion of the forest of Dean, while now only two other State properties and two or three private estates are managed under working plans. In 1887, a Committee appointed to inquire into the administration of this property, expressed itself most dissatisfied, but a Committee of Parliament in 1890 whitewashed the administration and reported that the management was satisfactory. These committees, as well as an earlier one, in 1885, were also to recommend measures for the advancement of forestry. They laid in their recommendations the main stress upon education, but no action followed, and it can be said that the government has never done anything for the advancement of forestry in the home country, whatever it may have done for the dependencies. A Departmental Committee again reported in 1902 with all sorts of recommendations, which have remained unheeded. The interests of forestry as far as the government is concerned are at present committed to the Board of Agriculture, an unwieldy body created in 1889, from which this Departmental Committee was appointed. There is now, however, a strong movement on foot, led by foresters returned from India, to commit the government to some action with reference to the waste lands, and towards providing for educational means. Another committee, appointed in 1908 to enquire into prospects of afforestation in Ireland, reported in favor of acquiring 300,000 acres of wood and 700,000 acres of unplanted land, dwelling especially on the benefit to be secured by providing employment and a check upon emigration of the rural population. Instead of acting upon this proposition the government directed the Royal Commission on Coast Erosion, which had issued its first report in 1907, to suspend its inquiry into the inroads of the sea and apply themselves to the inquiry as to “whether in connection with unclaimed lands or otherwise it is desirable to make an experiment in afforestation as a means of increasing employment during periods of depression, and how, and by whom such experiment should be conducted.”