REPORT OF THE SELECT COMMITTEE ON FORESTRY. 355 
defect?” “That the management becomes irregular after- 
wards,” 
“* In addition to the forest ground that you would set apart for 
the use of the school, you would acquire ground for experiments 
in planting as well as in the treatment of trees?” ‘That we 
should do in that area.”——“ There are many parts of the country 
in which certain trees are better adapted to the soil than others?” 
“ We could not grow everything ; we could only in an area of that 
class show the treatment of a few species. But the object would 
be to teach the pupils the general principles on a few species ; 
and then, understanding the treatment of a few species thoroughly, 
they would be easily able, by taking them to some other localities 
where other species of trees are grown, to understand in a short 
time how to treat others.”—“ So that you would have to take the 
students not merely to Scotland to show them the treatment of 
trees, but to take them to other parts of England?” ‘ We could 
not transform the present area which might be made over to us 
into a suitable area in a hurry ; it would be a slow process.” 
“ Are you acquainted with Ireland at all?” “I spent three 
weeks in Ireland last year. 1 went to Cork and Bantry, and 
across to Killarney and Tralee, and thence to Limerick, thence to 
Galway and Clifden, and thence I went vid Westport to County 
Mayo, Bangor, and Belmullet, to County Sligo, through Donegal, 
along the north to Coleraine and Londonderry, I went round 
Lough Neagh, Belfast, and County Down, and then to Dublin.” 
—‘‘You did not see many trees, comparatively speaking, upon 
the coast?” ‘‘ No.”—‘* You are aware that in Queen Elizabeth’s 
time the country was densely afforested?” “So I understand.” 
—“ You, perhaps, know that it was densely afforested; you 
could see the axe-marks upon the stumps?” “I did not see 
that ; but I have seen stumps of trees in many of the peat mosses ; 
there is no doubt that there were forests there.” —‘ Then there is 
no doubt that it would be capable of growing trees if it were 
properly planted?” “There are proofs to that effect in the 
woods now standing there ; I have seen even beech growing upon 
the west coast of Ireland within half a stone’s throw of the coast.” 
—“We may take it that the forests in Ireland have almost 
entirely disappeared?” ‘‘There is a very small proportion now 
under forest.”—‘‘ That is from sheer neglect and waste?” “It 
has been cut down for various purposes and never been replanted.” 
«You suggested that it would be well for English landowners 
