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STATISTICAL SURVEY OF IRISH AGRICULTURE. 



The following Table shows the acreage under woods and plantations in 

 the year 1851, and in each year from 1853 to 1901, inclusive : — 



Acreage -under Woods and Plantations. 



The above statement shows that, during the period 1851-1901, the num- 

 ber of acres under woods and plantations varied from 304,906 in 1851 to 

 339,858 in 1880, and that, comparing 1901 with 185 1, there has been an 

 increase of 1.6 per cent., the extent in 1851 being 304,906 statute acres, 

 and in 1901, 309,741 acres. 



The inquiries into forestry operations instituted in 1890, and continued 

 in the nine following years, were repeated in 1901. During the year ended 

 30th June, 1901, 1,740 acres were planted with trees, 1,1 11 acres more than 

 the extent planted in the preceding year. In connection with this subject, 

 it may be here mentioned that from the passing of the Act 29 and 30 Vic, 

 cap. 40, to the 31st March, 1901, 137 loans, for ^32,005, were sanctioned for 

 planting for shelter, and of this number four loans for ;^955 were sanctioned 

 in the last year of that period. The number of trees felled, both for clear- 

 ance and for thinning plantations, amounted to 941,132. The area returned 

 as cleared is 1,212 acres.* Of the trees felled, 462,481 were used for " prop- 

 ping," which appears to have been the chief purpose to which the timber of 

 almost all descriptions was applied. The numbers applied to the principal 

 specified uses comprise also: — 13,722 trees for sleepers, 24,712 for paling, 

 27,101 for fuel, 14,893 for furniture and building purposes, 4,981 for carts, 

 v.'agons, etc., 8,550 for telegraph and telephone poles, and 3,615 for clog 

 soles. 



In addition to the information regarding the total area under woods and 

 plantations, returns were obtained in 1901 showing the proportion of the 

 area entered under this heading occupied by each of the various kinds of 



* It will be noticed that while, according to the Table quoted above, there would appear to 

 have been a decrease of 1,907 acres under woods and plantations, from these forestry statistics 

 there would, on the contrary, appear to have been an increase of 528 acres under woods. 

 This is a somewhat serious discrepancy, but there are very considerable difficulties in ascertain- 

 ing the area under woods and plantations from a very large number of persons, many of whom 

 are imperfectly acquainted with the acreage under timber on their holdings. 



