TREE I'LAXTIXG IX RHODESIA. 65 



growing in the Alatoppos, some of the trees being ten feet in 

 height at four years old, and are fine, straight-growing trees. 



Parinaruun mabola. — A tall tree with a spreading crown ; its 

 timber is excellent for building purposes and fencing, and is 

 said to be ant-proof. 



Pfero.vylon utile (Sneezewood). — This tree is found growing 

 here and there throughout the country, but is not well grown. 

 A small plantation in the ]\latoppos raised from seed obtained 

 from Uitenhage has done well ; it is on an average ten feet in 

 height at seven years old, and is in a healthy and vigorous 

 condition. The value of this wood can hardly be overestimated. 



Sozvings of Indigenous Seed. — Experiments made with 

 sowings of indigenous seed have proved that it is almost im- 

 possible to raise the seedlings in the nursery and transplant to- 

 the plantations ; in almost every case this has been a failure. 

 Certain trees have been so treated, vis., Olea verrucosa and 

 Pteroxylon utile, but in the majority of cases in-situ sowings 

 have had to be .resorted to. For two seasons the nursery system 

 was tried, but without success. 



Destruction of Native Forests and Bush. — There is little 

 doubt but that this territory was once covered with dense wood- 

 lands which 'have been more or less destroyed by the natives, 

 either through cutting down to make way for their fields or 

 gartlens. or by means of grass fires, which have been started 

 with the object of securing fresh pasturage for their stock (the 

 idea being to burn off the old rank grass and allow the young 

 grass to spring up ) . It is needless to say that they never attempt 

 to control these fires in any way, allowing them to sweep on- 

 wards and do what damage they may. In this manner all the 

 decaying matter on the ground, leaves, dry grass, etc., is des- 

 troyed before having time to produce humus : the trees in the 

 forest are more or less damaged, and this damage renders them 

 susceptible to the attacks of termites, and so the damage goes 

 on. Seedlings are, of course, destroyed, and the only wonder 

 is that there are any trees left in the country, for these fires- 

 are an annual source of danger to all plant life. If reproduction 

 were undertaken systematically, and the better forests strictly 

 conserved and protected, I see no reason why, in a few years, 

 we should not only produce all the timber required for this 

 territory, but also open up an export trade with the Southern- 

 Colonies of our better native timbers. 



One of our chief points to be taken into consideration in 

 the matter of laying out plantations on a large scale is that of 

 the cost of land (and here, I think, we can compete with any 

 other part of South Africa). Another important consideration 

 is that branch or feeder lines are gradually being constructed 

 throughout the country, enabling timber to be transported at a 

 cheaper rate to the various towns and mines. In a country 

 whose chief industry is mining, naturally the most profitable 

 branch of forestry will be that which provides for the timber 

 requirements of the industry. Here we can safely look for a 



