Io8 TRANSACTIONS OF ROYAL SCOITISH ARBORICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



enterprise, no matter how enthusiastic or whole-hearted, could 

 raise the large capital required for carrying out a scheme of 

 afforestation extensive enough to be of benefit to the country as 

 a whole. 



The great need over large tracts in Ireland is for rural 

 employment; and if fairly extensive tracts of land were acquired 

 in different parts of the country by a Forestry Board under 

 State control, a remunerative livelihood for a large number of 

 able-bodied young men would be established in the draining, 

 fencing, and general preparation of the land, and in the tending 

 of the trees after they were planted. Coniferous building timbers 

 are yearly increasing in price, owing to the exhaustion of foreign 

 and colonial timbers near the sea-board, and it is time that the 

 critical position of our whole timber-supply was realised. Ireland, 

 with its bogs, its plains, and its hill-sides lying dormant and 

 crying aloud for exploitation, stands ready for a scheme of 

 afforestation that shall fulfil the purposes of giving employment 

 where it is needed, of supplying a demand for timber that will 

 be badly wanted, and of securing a good return for invested 

 capital. Smaller and poorer countries have their profitable 

 State forests. They have borne the brunt of the experimental 

 stage, and the British Government can now step into line and 

 reap the benefit of others' experience. In connection with this 

 article, the announcement, quoted above, of the appointment of 

 an Irish Forestry Committee is of great importance. 



Publication of Indian Departmental Literature. 



The constitution of a Forest Research Institute, and the 

 development of scientific investigation in the Forest Department, 

 have shown the necessity of placing Indian Forest literature on 

 a more satisfactory footing than heretofore, and the Government 

 of India have sanctioned a proposal by which publications con- 

 taining important information will remain available for per- 

 manent reference, and will be issued in a form both acceptable to 

 the scientific world, and convenient for economic purposes. In 

 future, therefore, the Indian Forest Records will be devoted to the 

 publication of papers giving the results of the local investigations 

 of the Research Institute staff, or of others, whether members of 

 the Department or not; together with any short notes on pre- 



