Notes on State Forestry in Ireland 465 



the land are frequently complicated, making it difficult to secure 

 the land required from the various parties interested at a reason- 

 able valuation. The agricultural habits of each community have 

 become so settled that the removal of a few hundred or a few 

 thousand acres from the grazing resources of a valley inevitably 

 involves difficult readjustment. The Irish Forest Department 

 alone has overcome these difficulties in any measure by actually 

 purchasing land for planting. An advance of $120,000 was made 

 in 1910 by the Development Fund for acquisition and replanting 

 of mountain land. Up to 1914, 7,000 acres, in three blocks, 

 had been purchased, and further purchases were under considera- 

 tion. The cost varied from $9.60 to $14.40 per acre. Planting 

 is now started in these areas. The aim of management of these 

 areas is to increase the block of public forest in each centre to an 

 economical size for management of 2,000 to 5,000 acres, and 

 produce timber for the needs of the surrounding population. 



Land Acts passed in 1903 and 1909 provided for advance of 

 money by the government to tenants to enable them to purchase 

 the land under their occupation. Nimierous purchases have been 

 made in this manner, and it has been found that the tendency of 

 the new owners has been to destroy the existing woodlands. 



The Forest Department has therefore been given power to re- 

 quire the preservation and proper management of this timber, 

 and is thus placed in the position of being able to fiirther influ- 

 ence farm forestry. Important educational work is being carried 

 on by the officers of the Department in making working plans for 

 and giving advice to private owners. 



Powers, granted under the Agricultural and Technical Instruc- 

 tion Act allow county councils to raise taxes for the acquisition 

 and preservation of woodlands. Three counties have acquired 

 forest land in this manner. Counties may also, guided by the 

 advice of the Department, raise money by taxation for the pur- 

 chase of trees for distribution to agricultural owners. Altogether, 

 up to 1914, about 1,000,000 trees had been distributed to planters 

 by counties. 



The forest work of Ireland is now carried on by an annual vote 

 of $48,000, in addition to the $120,000 advance from the Develop- 

 ment Fund. The superior staff consists of the Chief Inspector of 

 Forestry and two foresters as Assistant Inspectors, in addition to a 

 trained foreman in charge of the chief planting and forest stations. 



