26 TRANSACTIONS OF ROYAL SCOTTISH ARBORICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Forests of about looo acres each — as near Edinburgh as can be 

 conveniently arranged — and the formation of a sample area and 

 a Forest Nursery on the outskirts of the town. 



The present is, without doubt, the psychological moment. 

 Public attention is aroused to the growing deficit in the national 

 timber-supply, and to the enormous bill of ;;^26, 000,000 now 

 being paid for foreign timber, the whole of which could be 

 produced in this country if silviculture were on the same 

 scientific basis that it is in France and Germany. The absolute 

 necessity for scientific instruction in forestry has been established, 

 and is beginning to be thoroughly realised by the general public. 

 If, through any notion of false economy, of short-sighted adher- 

 ence to old traditions and empirical myths, the present enthusiasm 

 is not guided along liberal and scientific lines, the opportunity 

 will be lost, and the progress of British silviculture will be 

 retarded for another thirty years or so, by which time, perhaps, 

 the accumulation of mischievous errors will be irreparable. 



5. The Report of the Departmental Committee on 

 Irish Forestry, 1908. 



By J. S. Gamble, C.I.E., F.R.S. 



This important Committee, appointed by the Vice-President 

 of the Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction for 

 Ireland, by Order dated 29th August 1907, began its sittings 

 on 3rd October 1907, under the presidency of T. P. Gill, Esq., 

 Secretary of the Department. The subjects laid down for its 

 consideration were — 



( i) The present provision for State aid to Forestry in Ireland ; 



(2) The means whereby, in connection with the operation 



of the Land Purchase Acts, existing woods may be 

 preserved, and land suitable for forestry acquired for 

 public purposes ; 



(3) The financial and other provisions necessary for a com- 



prehensive scheme for afforestation in Ireland. 

 The Committee took the evidence of numerous witnesses, made 

 many direct investigations, considered a number of special 

 reports, conferred with representatives of the County Councils, 

 and then prepared the complete Report which is now before us. 



