HIGHWOODS, COPSES, ETC. 293 
and if the rods are peeled their value may be 
increased to nearly £35. Despite the heavy ex- 
penditure, much in excess of that for ordinary 
woodland crops, on planting, tending, harvesting, 
peeling, rent, rates, and taxes, it will thus be seen 
that, on suitable classes of land, and within easy 
reach of a favourable market, osier-holts can prove 
a very remunerative investment; and more especi- 
ally so if combined locally with basket-weaving. 
But the supply of the raw material for the trade, 
and in fact the trade itself, capable of great ex- 
tension, is chiefly in the hands of Belgians, French, 
and Germans. This is, in fact, merely another 
example on a small scale of our strange national 
negligence and our indifference to economical 
considerations, which permit several millions of 
pounds sterling to find their way annually into 
the pockets ‘of foreigners for the purchase of 
pinewood and fir timber, that we might perfectly 
well grow for ourselves, with untold advantages 
to the rural population, and to our internal trade 
and commerce generally. 
