I'RKSIDKNJ lAI. ADDRESS SECTION C. St) 



Before going further it might be as well to explain that cer- 

 tain classes of timber will always have to be imported, for they 

 cannot be grown in South Africa. Such kinds are Teak, 

 Mahogany. Ash, Hickory, and Walnut. Pitch Pine may also have 

 to come from abroad, though experimental plantings of this 

 species seem to indicate that it may be possible to cultivate it in 

 some parts of the Union with success. These kinds, however, 

 form only a small percentage of the total imports, and do not 

 materially aifect the general question of growing our own tim1)er 

 su])plies. 



I previously estimated that the annual consumption of 

 timber in the Union in 50 years' time will be 35,000,000 feet. 

 Now, an acre of pine plantation can be expected to produce 100 

 cubic feet of timber per annum. Measurements taken in this 

 country show that that amount is often exceeded, e.g., the yearly 

 increment of a stand of P'mus itisignis 29 years old at Tokai was 

 275 cubic feet, and of a 30 year old stand of Cluster Pine also 

 at Tokai was 157 cubic feet, but to be on the safe side, and taking 

 good and bad stands together, 100 cubic feet per acre seems to 

 be a safe figure to adopt. If it is assumed that five out of the 

 35,000.000 feet of timber is made up of hardwoods and other 

 kinds that cannot be grown in South Africa, it will be necessary 

 to plant about 300,000 acres to produce the balance. 



Up to the present the total area afiforested by Government is, 

 in round numbers, 70,000 acres, of which 21,000 belong to the 

 Railway Administration. Of the 70.000 acres a considerable 

 proportion cannot be regarded as of a nature that will serve to 

 meet the general timber requirements of the country. For in- 

 stance, the bulk of the plantations in the Transkei, amounting to 

 over 7,000 acres, consist mainly of Wattles and Eucalypts grown 

 especially to meet native wants, and to relieve the strain on the 

 indigenous forests. Again, the jjlantations in connection with 

 the drift sands at Port Elizabeth, aggregating 5,000 acres, are 

 only useful as fuel reserves. Other plantations, such as some 

 of those in the Transvaal and the Free State, will serve to pro- 

 vide only local needs for fuel, poles, and rough farm material 

 for which, owing to the treeless character of the country, a good 

 demand exists. A considerable area of plantations in all the 

 Provinces has been experimental, and there have naturally been 

 failures, and the result.s, as far as timber production is concerned, 

 can be disregarded. 



If due allowance is made for all these circumstances, and 

 deducting the land under hardwood plantations, the area <tf 

 plantation which can be expected to produce pine timber is con- 

 siderably curtailed, and does not amount to more than 30,000 

 acres. Thus only a small beginning has been made in the desired 

 direction. 



Though I have laid considerable stress on the prime imjx>r- 

 tance of a softwood timber su])ply, it should not be overlooked 

 that the consumption of hardwoods is hkely to reach considerable 

 proportions. Hardwoods are used largely in railway work, 

 especially for sleepers. The length of railway now open is 



