1885.] THE IRISH FOREST PROBLEM. 249 



making — an instructor other than a resident being only necessary for 

 a very limited time. It is proposed, in the beginning at least, to 

 import from abroad the rods necessary to make the plain, common com- 

 mercial baskets, of the different sizes and shapes suitable to meet 

 the requirements of the railways, wine merchants, grocers, etc., 

 together with the carrying exigencies of the General Post Office, 

 whose parcel post basket contract is already estimated at £40,000 

 per annum. Now in the matter of the cultivation of osiers in 

 Ireland, J. C.'s testimony is interesting, corresponding with what 

 has already been adduced in these columns on their cultivation in 

 England : — 



" This is a form of planting than which none is more needed 

 in Ireland, and none so suited to our requirements, or that will 

 yield so quick and profitable a return. It can be grown, too, on 

 land almost useless for other purposes, and will require in many 

 cases such a trifling outlay in preparation of the soil that it has 

 always been a mystery to me why the trade was not a flourishing 

 one in Ireland. Seven years ago, in writing to you on the subject, 

 I was able to state, on the authority of a Dublin basketmaker, 

 that one cause, at least, of the anomaly was the high charges of 

 the Irish railways — tliat he could have his willows at a cheaper 

 rate from Eotterdam than from a midland county in Ireland." 



All speed to such needed reforms as are thus indicated in rail- 

 way charges. But enthusiastic advocates of Irish afforestation 

 should remember to prove the diverse commercial conditions of 

 success involved in more than one of their propositions. For 

 instance, even though the geology of Erin is singular in having a 

 magnificent carboniferous system, practically devoid of coal-beds, 

 could its future supplies of wood fuel compete with the mineral 

 supplies of the English coal-fields ? Further, are the turpentine, 

 resin, or wood-charcoal markets so capable of absorbing unlimited 

 supplies, that prices may not be at the same time influenced? 

 Foresters alone cannot afford to ignore supply and demand with 

 their sometimes too serious national consequences, caused by artificial 

 measures. 



The French Forest Department have the charge of the restora- 

 tion and conservation of mountain pasture lands. So the Irish 

 forestal problem may legitimately embrace the further improvement 

 of the country specially for stock-raising ; merely keeping tree- 

 planting as a means to such an end. Now Mr. G. H. Kinahan, of 

 the Geological Survey of Ireland, has given evidence bearing on this 

 before the Committee on Hibernian Industries. He thought great 

 tracts of waste land might be acquired by the State, drained at a 

 cost of about 25 s. per acre, which would add 10 to 15 per cent, to 



