FOREST OPERATIONS IN COUNTY GALWAY, IRELAND. 219 



XIX. Forest Operations in County Gahvay, Ireland. 



The following remarks are taken from a Report by Dr Schlich, 

 written in 1895, but not hitherto published. 



1. Past Operations at Knockboy. 

 The Knockboy estate consists of a block of land 914 acres in 

 extent, of which about 62 acres are water. It has a compact 

 shape, about three-tenths of its boundary pointing to the north- 

 west, three-tenths to the south-west, and four-tenths to the east. 

 The topographical features are as follows : — A hill of moderate 

 height is found in the northern part, which is connected by a 

 ridge with a higher hill situated outside the estate. Knockboy 

 hill slopes down to the west, south, and east, the slope being 

 of an undulating character, thus producing various smaller 

 hillocks, until it runs out into bog up to 10 feet deep on the 

 south and east boundaries. There are several small loughs on the 

 south-wesb and east boundaries. The underlying rock is granite, 

 which appears .in solid masse3 in the more elevated parts, but 

 is generally broken up into a coarse sand near the surface. The 

 soil is peaty throughout, and differs very considerably in depth. 

 On the slopes the peaty soil reaches only a moderate depth, which, 

 in this respect, is everywhere fit for planting. On the more level 

 parts the bog attains various depths up to 10 feet, if not more. 



Owing to its position on the immediate west coast of Ireland, 

 Knockboy is exposed to the influence of strong westerly gales 

 and the accompanying spray of salt-water. This is especially 

 the case on the top, and the western and south-western slopes of 

 Knockboy hill ; but owing to the moderate height of the hill, 

 these effects are also visible on the eastern slope, though perhaps 

 not to the same extent. 



Fencing. — The area has been fenced in, the fencing consist- 

 ing mostly of galvanised iron posts and wire, erected on the 

 Oarrimony x system ; the posts are generally butted into stone. 

 Part of the fence, on the west, consists of a turf dyke with two 

 wires on the top. I understand that the fencing costs about Is. 

 per running yard. 



Draining. — On the slopes, where the peaty soil is shallow, 

 surface drains have been cut, wherever required ; these drains 

 are, naturally, irregularly distributed over the area. On the 



1 Ordinary galvanised wire with metal standards, set in stone. 



