J2. THE GEORGE AND KNYSNA FORESTS. 



growth follows, and when this becomes dry and is ignited again 

 irreparable damage is done to the fringing trees, which, as a rule, 

 die and become food for further fires. The forest perimeter 

 most liable to injury is that situated at the junction of the moun- 

 tain ravines with the coastal plateau — thus the most serious 

 damage occurred at George, Forest Hall, Coldstream and Storms 

 River. The forests protected by ridges and hills from the 

 N.W. winds are comparatively free from injury, the reason 

 being that the aspect is favourable for the conservation of 

 moisture and the production of counter currents of wind. 



The periodic fires caused by natural methods would not 

 seriously affect the area of forest, though the forest expansion 

 may or may not be hindered. It is even possible that periodic 

 fires may be responsible for the increase in high forest, but 

 sufficient data are not available to establish this point. At any 

 rate, Nature has provided a remedy for what is evidently a long 

 standing menace — she produced, or introduced the keurboom 

 (Virgilia capensis). 



The Keurboom is a rapid grower, seeds freely and continu- 

 ously. The seeds are eaten by birds and disseminated far and 

 wide. They possess the power of lying dormant for a long 

 period, and are capable of growing the moment conditions for 

 germination are favourable. Thus, wherever there has been a 

 fire ; wherever the soil is disturbed, whether in the high forest 

 or in the sourveld surrounding it, keur seedlings make their 

 appearance. The keur is found growing on inhospitable hills, 

 on stony ridges, in dense masses where fires have occurred. 

 On shallow soil and near the coast it occurs as a bushy shrub 

 only a few feet high, but in favourable localities along the forest 

 perimeter or within the forest, provided sufficient light is avail- 

 able, as a tree fifty feet high with straight boles up to two feet 

 in diameter. Being a strong light-demander, the keur thickets 

 soon begin to thin themselves, and in the favourable soil condi- 

 tions which they produce the seeds of high forest trees find a 

 congenial germinating bed, and in the friendly protection of the 

 keur develop and take the place of the foster parent whose life 

 is usually not much more than about 40 years, if as long. 

 Numerous instances of the undoubted reclamation and extension 

 of high forest brought about by keur are to be met with. 



Since European occupation fires have become more frequent, 

 owing to the common practice of burning the veld to obtain 

 succulent vegetation for grazing purposes. The fires thus occur 

 at intervals when the keur groups, resulting from former fires, 

 have not yet emerged from the thicket stage, and consequently 

 contain much dead wood not yet fallen or sufficiently decayed. 

 Such groups succumb to the fires, but only to come up again in 

 still larger numbers. This periodic destruction naturally inter- 

 feres with the extension of forest, and, if continued unchecked 

 by artificial means, the area of indigenous forests will be con- 

 siderably reduced as a result of man's want of foresight. 



