asked the Minister for Fisheries and Forestry if he is satisfied with the proportion of hardwoods e.g. beech, oak, ash, sycamore, to conifers being planted in forests under the control of his Department.
Written Answers. - Forest Hardwood.
743.
Over the past ten years approximately 4 per cent of plantings in State forests consisted of broadleaves (hardwoods). The reason for the low percentage is that the high quality soil which is required for broadleaves is not normally acquired for afforestation. Furthermore, some 90 per cent of the market is for coniferous timber.