"The darksome pines on yonder rocks reclined
Wave high and murmur to the hollow wind."
POPE.
Having thus far spoken of the wealth that might be realized by the
islanders from the waters that surround their islands, let us turn to
speak of the wealth that might be realized by the islanders from the
islands themselves--wealth produceable neither by patches of potatoes,
nor by tillage, nor by minerals, nor by pasturage. On the islands are
vast terraces of naked rocks, and there are vast terraces of rocks not
naked on which grew those forests of oak, of yew, and of fir of which we
have already spoken, when treating of Druidism.
[Sidenote: RE-AFFORESTING ARAN.]
To re-afforest the disafforested wilderness has of late occupied the
thoughts of the thoughtful in our country. Dr. Lyons, for some time M.P.
for the city of Dublin, gave to it much of his attention. He has been
taken away, but his mantle has fallen upon another. Dermot O'Conor
Donelan, Esq., J.P., of Sylane, near Tuam, teaches us how the people of
other countries are enriched by their forests. Having made a tour
through the unwooded mountains of Connemara, he subsequently in the
present year made a tour through the wooded mountains of the Grand Duchy
of Baden. His inquiries and the result of his inquiries in that
prosperous country he published in a series of letters in the _Irish
Times_ and _Freeman's Journal_. To give those letters _in extenso_,
however instructive, would fill too many of our over-filled pages, but
we may be permitted to make a few quotations from them.
[Sidenote: FORESTS IN BADEN.]
"It is a noteworthy fact," writes Mr. Donelan, "that from the class of
lands similar to those that lie waste in Ireland, the recent progress of
Germany is generally believed to proceed. Prussia, Bavaria, Saxony,
Wurtemburg, Baden, and Alsace-Lorraine have a combined population of
40,644,000. The labour connected with the forests of those countries and
their products have been estimated to be worth L9,450,000; and those
earnings suffice for the maintenance of about 300,000 families." He then
forms a painful contrast between Baden and Ireland--between the German
mountain districts, and the mountain districts of the same kind in
Ireland where there is a similarity of soil; but there the similarity
ends.
[Sidenote: FOREST INDUSTRIES.]
"The mountains and bogs of Connemara, with the roots and remains of
trees scattered everywhere amongst them, are lying there in their bare
and melancholy desolation, and but for the presence of some miserable
hovels, the whole scene might be inside the Arctic circle. The mountains
of Schwartzwald, however, are covered with forests of silver fir, and by
their vast supplies of timber are creating vast industries. In a tour
which I made through it some months ago, I observed that almost every
branch of wood-work was in active operation, and for miles together the
rattle of machinery was hardly ever silent. The manufacture of paper
from wood, which is comparatively new, has already assumed very large
proportions in South-Western Germany. Second class wood-ends, etc., for
paper-making, can be had for about eight shillings a ton; while straw
must always cost from 30_s._ to L2 10_s._ This difference will gradually
transfer the manufacture of paper and papier-mache to this and similar
forest districts. Within the last few years several mills have been
established for the manufacture of cellulose from wood. They have been
found successful, and it is expected that this will soon be among the
most important of the forest industries. A list of the objects of which
cellulose is the basis would form a curious example of recent invention.
In the American Patent Office no less than one hundred and twenty
patents have been taken out in connection with cellulose since 1870.
Gun-cotton, collodion, celluloid, artificial ivory, handles for knives,
etc; dental plates, cuffs, collars, shoe-tips and in-soles, billiard
balls, are a few names taken from a long list, and which will give an
idea of the number of trades this one material is establishing in many
cities and towns of Germany. Celluloid can be made as hard as ivory or
be spread on like paint; it is water proof, air proof, and acid proof.
It can be pressed or stamped, planed as wood, turned in a lathe, and it
can be transparent or opaque.
"I am not able to state the quantity of basket and wicker-work used in
the United Kingdom, but at the lowest computation it must be several
millions worth a year, the imports alone being very large.
[Sidenote: RE-AFFORESTING ARAN.]
"It would not be possible to enumerate," he writes, "the number of
industries which supplies of timber are capable of developing. Some of
those would spring up within twelve or fourteen years, and which are
further capable of enormous development. Poplar grows rapidly in
Ireland; in twelve years the thinnings are of considerable size, and,
according to Mr. Herbert's report on the forestry of Russia (Blue Book,
commercial, 31, 1883), it appears that from poplar most of the paper
exported from Russia is manufactured. The consumption of paper in the
United Kingdom must be over L30,000,000 a year, and if it be probable
that mountain forests are likely to be the scene of a considerable
portion of its production in the future, what an opportunity is there
then of utilizing by means of forestry the waste lands and the cheap
labour of Donegal and Connemara. Ever since 1800 the question of the
waste lands has been before the public. It was reported on in 1812, and
again by the Devon Commission of 1840. Every writer on the industrial
resources of Ireland had paid it particular attention. It was mentioned
by Sir Richard Griffith, by Munns, by Dutton, and even before 1800 by
Arthur Young. There is hardly a Government in Europe which has not
undertaken the work of reclaiming and afforesting waste lands."
[Sidenote: FORESTS FORMERLY IN ARAN.]
So writes the author of those interesting letters, and he dissipates an
illusion which is prevalent amongst us, namely, that to turn planting
into profit requires long years and gross timber. On the contrary, as
his observations prove, in their earlier years of growth forests will
supply many industries for which old timber is unsuited. A great
objection to re-afforesting mountains and rocky districts is the length
of time that is generally supposed must elapse before so gigantic a work
could become remunerative; but Mr. O'Conor Donelan shows that no great
length of time is necessary, and that after a very few years timber
would be suitable for the works of which he speaks. Would that the
Government would take his words to heart, and do in Ireland what German
statesmen have done in Germany! There are men amongst us who would fain
believe that Aran is too much exposed to the westerly winds to admit of
timber being grown on the islands; but the great roots old in the earth
tell of the great trees that grew in Aran many centuries ago.