Tlie Utility of our Victorian Forests. 40:?' 



THE UTILITY OF OUR VICTORIAN FORESTS. 



By A. Tatluwi, Esq. 



It is well within the memory of residents of Victoria, that with 

 the exception of a few grassy plains, the whole of the State was at one 

 time covered with forest, which consisted of trees of largest size where 

 soil and climate favoured, and dense, though stunted scrub in the 

 more and regions. These reproduced themselves, and each year saw 

 a stronger growth, that in time would prooably have even covered 

 the grassy plains. Man, in the shape of the aboriginal, did little 

 damage to the forest, his instincts not tending to settlement or ao-ri- 

 cultnre. But with the advent of the white man began that inter- 

 ference with nature that has brought the State of Victoria down to- 

 its present state of limited forest areas. The time has long since 

 arrived when steps ought to be taken to prevent a further reduction 

 of those areas, or in a few years it will be necessary to re-plant, as is 

 happening now in South Africa, at best a costly task. 



As long as Victoria held large areas of forest, their j^roduce was 

 considered nature's free gift, even a waste and cumbersome produce; 

 men took it, destroyed and wasted it. The produce of centuries was 

 destroyed utterly in places, in less than a quarter of a century. 

 Soon a cry will go up, and is doing so to-day in parts : " Give us some 

 forests." Hence Forest Utilization, being the oldest branch of 

 Forestry, cannot be too urgently brought before the public. 



As time has progressed and population increased, more land was 

 required for agricultural and jjastoral purposes, and this was taken 

 from forest areas ; reckless cutting and bui-ning has destroyed more 

 forests, and to-day signs are not wanting to show that the remaining 

 woodlands — except at isolated and unexploitable spots — cannot con- 

 tinue to produce all we require. This gives rise to another branch of 

 Forestry — Forest Protection. 



Forests are of great economic value both to man and nature. To 

 man, chiefly through their produce ; to nature, by the influence thev 

 exercise on climate, moisture, stability of soil, and the healthiness of 

 the country. 



To a State the forests represent a valuable asset if properly 

 managed — First, by the produce they yield ; second, by the capital 

 they represent ; third, by the work they provide. 



Forest Produce. 



Wood, the chief produce of forests, is universally used, viz. : ship- 

 building, machinery, industries, agriculture, furniture, etc. Iron now 

 competes with timber and coal with wood fuel, but, nevertheless, wood 

 is still absolutely necessary, and likely to remain so. Take, for 



