21. Mrs. WARD (for Mrs. COPELAND)asked the hon. and gallant Member for Rye, as representing the Forestry Commissioners, whether they will consider in their re-afforestation schemes the advisability of planting hardwood trees, such as oak, beech, etc., instead of only planting larch and fir trees, especially as to-day the demand for larch as pit-props is a diminishing one?
§ Sir G. COURTHOPEThe Forestry Commissioners are not neglecting opportunities of acquiring hardwood soils, of which they planted over 1,600 acres last season, and concurrently are undertaking research with a view to improved methods of raising hardwood crops. It has to be borne in mind that the greater demand is for softwoods, which comprise 91 per cent. of the timber consumption in this country, and that the bulk of the war-time fellings were of conifers.