§ Mr. FIELDasked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) whether his attention has been directed to the shortage in the supply of osiers; and whether, in view of the large area of land suitable for the growth of osiers at present practically useless, he will consider the advisability of suggesting a method of its utilisation for this purpose?
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§ Mr. RUSSELLFrom the result of inquiries carried out by the Department they are of opinion that if osier-growing is to be successful in Ireland, it must be through the laying down of fresh beds, and cultivating them with that regularity which other crops demand. The prospect of utilising existing beds is not encouraging. As intimated in my reply of 18th ultimo to the hon. Member for South Kerry, the Department will be glad to furnish expert advice to anyone taking the matter up, and have also issued a leaflet on the subject.