the george and knysna forests. 73 



Management of the High Forests. 



The history of the management and utilization of the high 

 forests does not differ materially from that of other countries. 



As far as can he ascertained, the cutting of timber com- 

 menced about the year 1787, and with the increase of population 

 the timber trade grew, and at the present time forms no incon- 

 siderable part of the commerce of Knysna and T'Zitzikama. 

 The indigenous timbers were and are extensively used, and it is, 

 perhaps, no exaggeration to say that the high forests played an 

 important part in opening up South Africa, for nearly all the 

 wagons required in former years for transport were manufac- 

 tured from local timber. For a long time, notwithstanding 

 regulations, the forests were practically everyone's property, and, 

 though licence fees were payable, more often than not the wood 

 was cut without payment of the fees. Gradually, however, 

 from the middle of last century, supervision became greater, and 

 a large percentage of timber was licensed. The system followed 

 was to permit licensees to select their own trees, and nearly all 

 accessible parts of the forests were laid under contribution. 

 Stinkwood (Ocotca bullata) was the wood most sought after. 



In 1880 the Government appointed Count de Vasselot de 

 Regne, a French Forest Officer of conspicuous ability, as Super- 

 intendent of Woods and Forests. With his appointment a 

 scientific system of management was introduced. In 1883 

 Forest Regulations came into force, making a radical change in 

 the management of the forests. The selection system was con- 

 tinued, but with this difference : instead of the woodcutter select- 

 ing trees, all trees to be offered for sale were selected over 

 defined areas by the Forest officials, measured, numbered, and 

 sold per cubic foot. As was to be expected, such a radical 

 change was resented by the woodcutting community, but the 

 Government persisted in adhering to the new system. 



For some years after the introduction of the 1883 regula- 

 tions the staff of the Forest Department was engaged in dispos- 

 ing of felled trees found scattered throughout the forests. 

 Woodcutters, under the system practised formerly, frequently 

 felled trees, and discovering some slight fault, discarded them, 

 or perhaps only cut out the best portion, leaving the rest to decay 

 in the forest. 



As is to be expected, the woodcutter, permitted to make his 

 own choice, naturally selected the best-grown trees; the faulty 

 ones, or those too large or too small to suit his fancy, were not 

 touched. It is also a fortunate thing that only a few species 

 were in demand. To this and the extent of forest over which 

 the selections were made is to be attributed the usually excellent 

 state of the forests in regard to stocking and natural regenera- 

 tion. 



In a primeval forest containing a large number of species, 

 only some of which are in demand, serious difficulties of manage- 



