Establishment and Tending of Timber Plantations 147 



ation to generation, provided of course they have been properly 

 and scientifically managed. 



The natural forests of the Union, even if fully developed, are 

 never likely to be able to supply even five per cent, of the soft- 

 wood requirements of the country. According to the latest 

 Census Returns the percentage of forest land, i.e. land under 

 natural forests as well as plantations, in the Union is only .5 per 

 cent., in other words, the Union contains only 2,361 square miles 

 under trees in comparison with its total area of 473,096 square 

 miles. Of these 2,361 square miles, 1,446 belong to private 

 individuals, including companies, 880 to the State, and 35 to 

 Corporate Bodies. 



The Government, realising the seriousness of the position, has 

 embarked on a vigorous policy of afforestation, and the Forest 

 Department now aims at making the Union in years to come 

 largely independent of outside sources of softwood supplies. 

 At the same time it continues to safeguard and husband as far 

 as possible the resources of the country's existing natural forests. 

 Apart from the fact that the creation of large forests in South 

 Africa is a national necessity, it is not likely that afforestation will 

 prove unprofitable from a financial point of view. 



Though the chief responsibility for afforestation in this, as in 

 most other countries, must be shouldered by the State, yet much 

 can be done by private enterprise and by Public Bodies such as 

 Municipalities, Divisional Councils and Corporations, provided 

 they have funds and facilities after they have discharged the more 

 special functions for which they exist. 



Every tree successfully planted adds to the national wealth* 

 and in times of stress and shortage, such as we have recently 

 experienced, these trees may prove a useful store on which to draw. 

 In illustration of this point it may be mentioned that for the past 

 five years the match factories of the Union have been dependent 

 solely on South African timber, the bulk of it Poplar, which was 

 planted long ago in small lots by farmers all over the countr>% 

 and the planters had no idea then how important economically 

 their efforts would ultimately become. 



