7° THE GEORGE AND KNYSNA FORESTS. 



in detached or semi-detached patches or groups varying in size 

 from a few square yards to thousands of acres in extent. The 

 high forest consists of evergreen trees, partly light-demanding 

 and partly shade-enduring, the more important trees being: — 

 Ocotea bullata, Podocarpus elongata, Podocarpus thunbergii, 

 Cunonia cdpensis, Olea\ laurifolia, Nuxia floribunda, Curtisia 

 jaginia, Platylophus trifoliatus, Apodytes dimidiata, Ptcrocelas- 

 trus variabilis, Gonioma kamassi, Virgilia capensis, and many 

 others not occurring so frequently. The understorey of shrub 

 growth consists principally of Trichocladus crinitus, and in 

 places numerous tree ferns occur. 



The high forest is distributed in three main groups, which 

 may be called respectively the George, Knysna, and T'Zitzikama 

 groups. 



The George zone of high forest commences in the foothills 

 forming the eastern headwaters of the Great Brak River, about 

 ten miles from the sea, and follows the foothills of the Outeniqua 

 Mountains, passing the town of George and terminating at the 

 Wilderness (Touw River Mouth). The approximate area of 

 indigenous high forest in this group at present is about 7,000 

 acres. A large area has been destroyed by fire since European 

 occupation. The greatest area of forest is at the eastern 

 extremity of the arc. 



The Knysna forest zone commences on the Touw River, 

 distant about three miles from the sea, and follows in an arc the 

 foothills of the Outeniqua Mountains and the spur already 

 referred to, which terminates on the coast midway between the 

 Knysna River Mouth and Seal Point. The area of high forest 

 contained in this group is approximately 70,000 acres. The 

 greatest area of forest is along the eastern half of the arc, and 

 for the most part covers the watershed. 



The T'Zitzikama high forest zone commences at Keurbooms 

 River, about two miles from the sea, and follows the foothills of 

 the T'Zitzikama and Karedouw Mountains as far as Clarkson, 

 about seven miles from the sea. The area of forest is about 

 35,000 acres. Large areas have been destroyed by fire in this 

 zone. The patches of forest are more or less evenly distributed 

 along the western portion of the arc, but diminish in size east- 

 wards — east of Clarkson they disappear. 



In the three areas there are, therefore, approximately 

 112,000 acres of forest, about 92,000 of which belong to the 

 Government. 



The three groups form arcs with radii pointing S.W. The 

 radii of the arcs increase in size from George eastwards. 



Since European occupation the area of high forest has 

 decreased — due entirely to recurring fires — and in some cases 

 cultivation of the soil subsequent to the fires, the greatest destruc- 

 tion being in the George and T'Zitzikama districts. Possibly 

 about 10,000 acres have been destroyed. 



