president's address. TjS 



It has been decided to classify our forests, l)ut no method will 

 be satisfactory that is not based on the ecological principles 

 referred to below at p. 776. We have not, however, full data at 

 present to make a final classification of our forests ; these will be 

 secured as our botanical survey is pushed on. 



I understand that the classification of the timber-bearing lands, 

 so as to define their relative values for growth of timber and for 

 agricultural purposes, has been proceeding, under the auspices of 

 the Forest Department, for the past three years, and is to a large 

 extent completed. To finish this work, and to settle the differences 

 of opinion existing in many special instances between the Lands 

 and Forest officials, will be the task, I understand, of the Commis- 

 sion of Experts that the Minister for Forests (Hon. Walter 

 Bennett) has stated, in the press, it is his intention to appoint. 



Then I would enunciate the axiom that we require to take 

 stock of the trees upon the national property. What kinds have 

 we 1 Where are they 1 Where do they flourish best ^ What is 

 their state of maturity 1 For what purposes are the trees best 

 suited"? Can we answer all these questions'? I fear not, and 

 until we can do so much better than at present, I am afraid that 

 our dealings with our forests will be based on empiricism. We 

 ought to be in a position to inform an interested enquirer, at 

 short notice, in what part of the country there is to be found 

 timber best adapted for a certain purpose, and in what approxi- 

 mate quantity. Until we get this survey, which need not be 

 minute, of our resources, I am afraid we shall not have a Forest 

 Department which will command the full confidence of the 

 country. 



To avoid tedious reiteration, may I, at this place, be pardoned 

 if I refer to some remarks addressed by me to our Royal Society 

 in 1897 ;* I do not intend to repeat tliem. 



This botanical survey of which I have spoken, will lead, by the 

 quickest road, to an accurate knowledge of the properties of our 

 timbers. There is no stimulus to enquiry more keen than that 



* Jouni. R, Soc. N S. Wales, xxxi., 62, 67, 68. 



