1883.J FOEESTBY THE PIONEER OF AGRICULTURE. 127 



would, if planted, materially benefit the tenants occupying land in 

 the immediate neiglibourhood, wliich cannot now be made available 

 for planting unless with the consent of the present occupier, and I 

 think whatever good may have accrued to the Irish tenant farmers from 

 the Land Act of 1881, a reservation ought to have been carried with the 

 enactment, enabling and empowering the proprietor to acquire such land 

 under reasonable notice, wlien not held by lease. As I take it, this line of 

 policy would have implied the greatest good to the greatest number of 

 people. It is true that a proprietor may still buy up tlie interest of the 

 occupier and plant, but it is quite possible, and exceedingly probable, that 

 in many cases the tenant would set such a value on his interest that the 

 proprietor would not feel justified in meeting his demands for planting 

 purposes. There is still another way open by which such land is 

 available for planting purposes, and which has been very succinctly 

 referred to by Dr. Lyons, viz., planting under a joint interest by 

 proprietor and tenant ; such an arrangement presupposes an amicable 

 feeling and relationship as existing between proprietor and tenant, a 

 condition that we all admit is very necessary to encourage and foster, 

 especially in Ireland. Probably some gentleman here may say we 

 are not interested in the Irish Land question as it affects forestry in 

 the Emerald Isle, or the re-afforesting of Ireland ; but I beg to submit 

 that we are deeply interested in the question, simply because 

 unfavourable seasons, deficient yield of crops, and low prices ruling 

 for agricultural produce, caused discontent, and discontent in its turn 

 begat agitation, culminating in the passing of the Irish Land Bill in 

 1881, with its conditions, revolutionising the conditions of land tenure 

 Unfavourable seasons and low prices ruling wiih a moderate develop 

 ment of the same element caused an Euglish Land Bill to pass 

 through the hands of our legislators during the past session, and 

 become law, not so far-reaching as the Irish Land Bill, but to a 

 considerable extent built on the same foundation. Meanwhile our 

 landed proprietors are at liberty to take up lands by notice when not 

 held under lease, and plant should they wish so to do ; but wlio knows 

 how far legislation will reach the next time this question comes up for 

 consideration ? and we shall do well to note the general drift o 

 legislation ere it is too late. Fortunately the questioa of forestry 

 and of re-afforesting, is so far practically a non-political question i 

 the House of Commons, and I trust.it will remain so. I do think 

 this, that our landed proprietors, agents, foresters, and nursery- 

 men interested in this great question ought to make themselves and 

 their views more felt and understood by those who frame our laws. 

 I consider and am sure you must admit that Dr. Lyons in two short 

 years has done much to elucidate the question of forestry in the 

 House of Commons and has obtained from the Government one very 



