IRISH GARDENING. 



Forestry. 



We are again impelled tu alliulL' to tliis most 

 important subject from Laving just read a most 

 charming booklet by Sir Andrew Agnew, Bart., 

 President oi the Eoyal Scottish Arboriuultural 

 Society, entitled " An Introduction to Forestry 

 for Young People." The author is an en- 

 thusiastic forester and lover of trtes, antl has 

 penned his message to the young folks in just 

 that simple, sympathetic manner most cal- 

 culated to arouse the interest of his readers. 

 Avoiding all dry technicalities and leaving statis- 

 tics severely alone he takes the children right into 

 the woods, and introduces them to the various 

 trees useful in forestry. Incidentally he tells 

 them of the skilled forester and his work, show- 

 ing how the work of managing woods and 

 forests is not for those who do not understand, 

 but requires years of technical training. By 

 carefully-worded descriptions the most impor 

 tant forest trees are made familiar, while 

 illustrations heliJ to make clear the difference 

 between forestry or silviculture and arboricul- 

 ture. The importance of forestry for the pro- 

 duction of timber and as a means of improving 

 the climate and amenities of the covuitry is 

 emphasised, the idea bi-ing to train the rising 

 generation to a proper appreciation of the need 

 for a comi)rehensive system of forestry through- 

 out the whole country \\herever land exists 

 which is not good enough for agriculture. 



The publication of this excellent little book 

 was made possible by the generosity of two 

 members of the Eoyal Scottish Arboricultural 

 Society, who " joined in sending a handsome 

 donation to the Society, to be employed in 

 creating an intevesh in afforestation among 

 children." A third member subsequently 

 made a further gift for the same purpose. It 

 was left to the discretion of the Council how 

 the money should be spent. It decided in 

 favour of " a small l)ook, which should describe 

 the objects and H'cthods of forestry in such a 

 way as to make them intelligible, and possibly 

 interesting, to young ])eople." The result is 

 in every way satisfactory, and we take the 

 liberty of connnending the book to the notice 

 of the members of the Irish Forestry Society. 



Are there no members of the Irish Society 

 prepared to emulate the generosity of the 

 Scottish enthusiasts? But for an odd para- 

 graph in the newspapers at long intervals, we 

 rarely hear of the Irish Forestry Society, yet it 

 numbers among its members men of scientific 

 and technical experience who are second to 



none, and 'have even an international reputa- 

 tion as experts. What steps are we in Ireland 

 taking to interest the yomig in the urgent 

 (juestion (jf reafforestation? Arbor Day comes 

 once a year, l)ut the few trees [)lanted convey 

 but a jioor idea of forestry. They arc mostly 

 planted in urban areas, and are seldom species 

 of any value for forest planting. We have, 

 ))erhaps, the best climate in Evu'ope for tree 

 growing, yet Ireland is almost, if not quite, the 

 most treeless country of the whole continent. 

 The dwellers in rural districts are those to 

 whom it is necessar}? to bring the whole force 

 of argument in favour of forestry, and if adults 

 are apathetic, the children at least should be 

 encouraged to love trees, and should be taught 

 to understand how they are grown to produce 

 timber. The Irish Forestry Society, it may be, 

 lacks funds for efficient propaganda work, but 

 this difficulty should not be insurmountable in 

 a country which is now teeming with money, 

 and in which many, very many, owners have 

 lately been able to sell timber at remunerative 

 ])rices. Now would seem to be an opportune 

 time to make a wide appeal for members. 

 Hundreds probably, who have lately made a 

 lirofit from timber they never expected to sell, 

 might be caught in the right mood to become 

 enthusiastic members. It would be only right 

 and fair that some, at least, of the money 

 which has come to Ireland for timber should 

 be expended in })lanting young trees to take 

 the place of those which, having had their day, 

 are now filling another role in devious ways and 

 in far places. Never, perhaps, was the nation 

 in a better mood to listen sympathetically to 

 the arguments of the forester. Thousands of 

 allotment holders all over the country have felt 

 the supreme satisfaction of having grown their 

 own vegetables, and there is no satisfaction 

 U) equal that of having produced something 

 from the soil. Many of tliese industi'iou!^ 

 workers had to overcome absolutely appalling 

 difficulties in rendering their allotments fit to 

 grow anj'thing ; but they succeeded. Having 

 fumed oftimes dreary wastes into productive 

 gardens, it is natural to infer that these same 

 people would listen with sympathy to those 

 who urge the reafforestation of Ireland's bare 

 hillsides and bogs. With such a volume of 

 support behind if the Irish Forestry Society 

 should have no difficulty in impressing the 

 whole nation with the imperative necessity of 

 having a national scheme of afforestation ready 

 to be put into operation as soon as the war is 

 over. Even now many people fear the re- 

 action when peace comes, and dread the pro- 



