244 A HISTORY OF 



necessity for a home-grown supply was insisted on, so 

 as to furnish employment, and render the country 

 independent of foreign supplies. In Ireland were to 

 be found 1,255,000 acres of shallow mountain bog, 

 suited for the plantation of forest trees. The want of 

 a supply of naval timber was felt during the wars of 

 Bonaparte. In Sweden, Finland, Norway, and Russia, 

 the forests were gradually destroyed in the manufac- 

 ture of tar, in iron and copper works, &c, and the 

 American forests were also being devastated. 



The committee of agriculture submitted other 

 means of employment and subsistence. The cultiva- 

 tion of the soil by alternate operations of the plough 

 and spade, as in Flanders, was recommended. In that 

 country one-seventh of the arable land was trenched 

 every year, and this winter work effected the renovation 

 of the whole surface under tillage every seven years. 

 The labouring classes would thus be compelled to give 

 up the use of potatoes, and substitute corn. 



The manufacture of window glass claimed atten- 

 tion, and it was believed that a properly conducted 

 establishment would be successful. The price of coal 

 alone was thought to militate against it, as very large 

 quantities would be necessary. The saving in freight 

 from England, which in so bulky a material amounted 

 to a good deal, would, however, it was expected, com- 

 pensate. 



In 1824, the Rev. Joseph Cotter, obtained the 

 Society's silver medal for his royal patent basso- 

 hibernicon, or hibernian bass horn, and tenor horn : 

 Kramer, master of the King's private band, members 

 of some cavalry bands, and some distinguished musical 

 professors, bore testimony to the ingenuity of the 

 invention, which it was thought would form a great 

 addition to bands of music. 



