1^86.] FOREST nEXOVATION AT MOUNT MACEDON. 629 



In conclusion, I contend again that if the branch is living instead 

 of dead when cut off, the application of tar to the wound, 

 though it may preserve the wood from decay until the process of 

 covering over is complete, no healing takes place, and the timber so 

 treated must be defective. Mr. Farquharson does not distinguish 

 between death and decay. Henry Rogers. 



Hartley, Plymouth, 21.s-^ January 1886. 



FOREST RENOVATION AT MOUNT MACEDON. 



FROM '■' THE MELBOURNE LEADER." 



THE planting of forest trees, initiated on Mount Macedon by 

 Mr. William Ferguson about a dozen years ago is proving 

 highly successful ; the only cause for regret is that the various 

 Governments have not been more liberal towards such a beneficial 

 national object as the provision of a continuous supply of timber. 

 The varieties of climate in Victoria are so diverse that we might 

 provide ourselves with the timber trees of nearly all parts of the 

 world, from the arctic zone nearly to the tropics. The native timber 

 is being rapidly reduced, the demand for it yearly increasing, and 

 little has hitherto been done towards the recuperation of the forests, 

 either by replanting or by tending the young saplings, which spring 

 in abundance wherever the full-grown trees have been cleared away. 

 Had this important branch of forestry been attended to in time, the 

 mountain might now be reclothed with indigenous timber fit for 

 commercial demands. The experiment of cultivating exotic timber 

 has, however, had a fair trial, and clearly shows what may be done 

 in that way. When such favourable results have been attained, and 

 that at a cheap rate, it seems a pity that the experiment was not 

 carried further ; for by the addition of a very few hundreds a year, 

 the nursery for propagating and even the trees having been ready, 

 Mr. Ferguson would have had the whole surface of the mount 

 covered by this time, whereas less than 200 acres has been planted 

 on Mount Macedon, in addition to about 40 acres sown on Station 

 Peak. Thirty-five acres were planted on Macedon last year, and 

 100 acres have been cleared and fenced ; of this area 1 acres have 

 been sown with seeds of various kinds, in the same manner as at 

 Station Peak. 



Since 1881, the date of our previous visit, the earliest planted 

 trees have made astonishing progress. As might have been surmised, 

 Pinus insignis has made the largest growth, the trees planted in 



2 s 



