94 NOTES ON OSIER-BEDS IX UEILKNKIRCTIEN. [Dec. 



kind, and not particularly valuable for practicable purposes, as 

 timber for sale ; so that if they took the returns, they found that in. 

 the grass lands there were something like 700,000 acres of wood, and 

 in the com lands there were also something like 700,000 acres of 

 wood, making in all only the same small proportion of 1,400,000. 

 Scotland possessed something like 750,000 acres of wood. Britain 

 was the greatest timber consumer in the world, and at the same 

 time the shortest producer. The annual consumption of timber in 

 this country was something like 290,000,000 cubic feet. Since, 

 as above shown, little dependence could be placed upon timber 

 supplies from abroad, was there nothing that this great empire 

 could do for itself? Ireland could offer 5,000,000 of acres for the 

 purpose of re-afforestation ; a like amount, at the very least, could 

 be supplied by Scotland, the same amount as a minimum by 

 England, while Wales could give 1,000,000 acres. Much could be 

 done by individual enterprise and energy, and by wise measures 

 emanating from Government, to increase the supply of timber 

 grown at home. 



He did not believe it was too much to e.xpect that this question, 

 when fully understood Ijy the public of these countries, would be 

 forced upon the consideration of Government as one on wliich tlie 

 empire depended for the maintenance of her high place amongst tlie 

 nations. 



^rOTI:S ON OSIER-BEDS m THE DISTRICT OF GEILEN- 



KIRCHEN, NEAR AIX-LA-CHAPELLE, 



RHENISH PRUSSIA. 



V,Y J. A. KRAHE, BUKGEKMEISTER AT PKUJIMEEX. 



THE cultivation of osiers in the district of Geilenkirchen is more 

 than 200 years old ; but of late years it has been largely 

 extended, and has Ijecome a matter of great economic importance. 

 The area stocked with osiers in the district is over 1700 acres, of 

 which nearly 400 acres are the property of village communities. The 

 material produced gives employment to about 1000 basket-makers, 

 mostly small peasants, who are tlnis enabled to utilize their time in 

 the evenings, and to find profitable employment for their children at 

 home. The osier-beds are chiefly along the river Worm, and of late 

 a large extent of inferior meadows has been drained and planted with 

 osiers. Some of the communal lands, which as meadows only 

 yielded from Ss. to 30s. an acre, now give an annual mean yield of 

 £4 to £10, and this has made it possible considerably to diminish 

 the municipal rates and taxes. 



