96 



PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS — SECTION C. 



and now must remark the advance that has been made. Some 

 of the species now under trial in the Transvaal are also being 

 tested in the Free State, and it is possible some of them will 

 ultimately turn out to be valuable introductions. 



As the farms in the Free State become reduced in size, tree- 

 planting will become more general, and the movement that has 

 been taking place in the past 15 years may be expected to become 

 intensified. 



Now as to 'the steps which are being taken to provide for 

 the future timber requirements of the Union: during 1915-16 

 and 191 6- 1 7 the areas afforested were 2,384 and 2,655 acres, 

 respectively. At that rate of progress it would take more than 

 100 years before the acreage which I have estimated would be 

 required to replace our present importations would be planted. 

 The Government, appreciating the position, decided during last 

 Session of Parliament to provide money on the loan estimates 

 (^50.000) to permit of a programme of extension being em- 

 barked on. This has now been initiated. In deciding on the 

 localities at which to commence operations the factors taken into 

 consideration have been suitability of soil and climate for the 

 species to be grown and reasonable accessibility to rail or port. 

 The places at which Government has sanctioned operations being 

 started are : — 



In addition to these, schemes for Natal and the Transvaal 

 ■are still under consideration. 



