Forestry, a successful growing industry gives much to the economy. Yet it seems to be, at times, almost as contentious as the BSE or mad cow disease controversy. A thoughtful letter on this page a few days ago, written by a former Chief Inspector of the State Forest Service, raised several Important points, one of the most intriguing being, perhaps the situation of the farmer who has gone in for hardwood planting.
The annual premium payments, he writes, will stop after 15 years for non farmers and after 20 years for farmers. "Do the owners, perhaps, believe that it will - then be possible to bulldoze the broadleaf area and start again with some other income generating use? This matter needs to be clarified." The answer possibly lies in the Government's publication, glossy, costing £8, Growing for the Future in which, under the heading species' it has this to say on page 33: "The desired species mix in afforestation will be kept under review and maintained by adjustment, as necessary, of grants system.
Such as continuing the grants for broadleaves, it might be asked, until the trees are of marketable age? Say 60 years for ash, 100 for oak?. Maybe. But what will future Governments think of all this? And do about it? Afforestation was a theme in early Sinn Fein days, and many good men have worked in it and still are doing so. We are at the nutcracker stage now, it may be.
For it matters not just to the farmer or private forester, but also to the taxpayer and voter in general. The Fisheries people have views on afforestation's effect on rivers and lakes. Tourist interests and pretty well everyone come into the picture. And all national questions are likely to engender heat. This particular one will run for a long time.
Happy, then, those to whom the growing of trees can be a luxury (costing damn all if you grow them from seed), an indulgence, while at the same time giving cover from weather or noise and adding greatly to any piece of land. Trees encourage wild life, too. And, in the heel of the hunt, if you overplant, you eventually fell some and have logs to burn. And with the right kind of stove and extension pipes, may warm two or three rooms and save on your oil.
Anyway, they are a joy to behold. Just plant, stand back and admire.