The PrincqAes of Forestry. 
361 
Waste Lands in Ireland ; and the application of Forestry to the 
Remedy of the Destructive Torrents and Floods of the Catch- 
ment Basins of the Chief Kivers of Ireland," should suffice to 
bring about this desirable object. 
The Government must, however, do this ; private owners 
have neither the right to perform, nor the interest in such a 
widespread improvement. Their interests are centred in their 
demesnes, and planting, if conducted at all, will be confined to 
these areas. True, some more practical information will be 
needed before commencing such an important work ; for, valu- 
able as Mr. Howitz's report is, it lacks the essential element of 
practical finance. He places figures upon the probable produce 
of conifers which could not possibly be realised, and throws alto- 
gether too rosy a light on the undertaking. This does not imply, 
however, any doubt on a successful result. A large scheme of 
planting, too, would tend to relieve the congested districts of 
Ireland which are such a source of evil. 
Some will say, no doubt, that to plant in such exposed sites 
would end in failure ; but if the true principles of forestry are 
followed this will not be the case. What is required is to plant 
wide belts of conifers and other desirable trees simply for the 
purpose of shelter, and then to plant useful timber for com- 
mercial purposes inside these. Failure would not result if the 
areas planted were less small and restricted. 
The evidence of the Rev. T. E. F. Flannery points to the 
fact that extensive planting could be carried out without in- 
juring the rights of the people, and without depriving them of 
common and grazing rights ; and he also expresses his belief 
that the people would themselves protect the areas so planted, 
knowing that the result would be for their own benefit. 
It would be interesting to follow more closely the evidence 
of this witness, but it is already before those who really take an 
interest in the matter. It bears out most fully the belief that 
planting on a large scale on the west coast of Ireland would 
benefit the " distressful " country directly and indirectly. 
Forestry, in the broad acceptation of the word, will not alone 
be advanced by a spread of the true principles among the masses ; 
for assuredly, as the special education permeates the classes 
dij-ectly interested, so it will gradually reach the masses. It 
will in this way affect the London parks and open spaces, and 
extend and control the planting of streets and thoroughfares 
throughout the country. 
Every one will admit that there is room for improvement in 
Kensington Gardens, Hyde Park, the Green Park, and other 
spaces of the kind, which are such a feature in the vast metro- 
