Beport of the Mark of the Fore.stri/ Branvh. 903 



that the reproduction of vahiable eucalypts in State forests is of more 

 importance than grazing fees. Such reproduction has been retarded, 

 and sometimes almost stopped, by relentless grazing. 



Licenses too, for long terms, are not conducive to forest interests 

 and might with propriety be avoided in the future. They make for 

 forest fires, under which liead this is also referred to. Whenever 

 practicable, agistment is preferable, as under it the temptation to the 

 individual is not so keen. 



FoKEST Fires. 

 Serious forest fires were anticipated last summer. All the con- 

 ditions were favourable to them, but happily heavy rains came at 

 unexpected times and they did not occur. Stringent precautions 

 were taken, many miles of necessary breaks made, fire prevention 

 literatm-e freely circulated, circulars and posters sent to country 

 schools, and forest stations effectively equipped to cope with the fires 

 that did not break out. But neither the labour nor the money is lost. 

 It might be possible, and profitable, to arrange with the Director of 

 Education for the State school teachers generally to give a lesson to 

 their pupils during the month of December in each year on the 

 " Careless use of Fire." About the same time a simple article might 

 be written for the school })apers on the same subject. 



The money value of the timber destroyed annually by forest fires 

 cannot be estimated or calculated, but it must be very great indeed, 

 and no trouble or expense incurred in order to minimise them should 

 be matter for complaint. 



Long term grazing licenses do not conduce to the prevention of 

 forest fires, and a condition in such licenses that they would be 

 cancelled on mysterious fires breaking out on the areas involved 

 would, it is thought, lessen the number of accidental outbreaks — 

 more care w^nild be exercised. The fact is not genei^ally capable of 

 proof, but fact it is nevertheless, that forest fires are started for the 

 sake of the grass. Thirty odd years ago the writer saw it done in 

 the Dandenong forest by representatives of the pastoral licensee. 



Savvmii.ling. 



The majority of the mills are now under royalty, and the system 

 is working smoothly and well. There are more mills now operating 

 than there is full work for, and the present policy is to retain some 

 valuable belts of milling timber and virgin forest for future require- 

 ments. They will be opened when areas at present in use are cut 

 out and closed for a term of years. It is hoped that something fairly 

 reasonable in the shape of royalty may then be obtained. It might 

 prove a proper and profitable course to mark out these lands in 

 suitable milling areas and put them up to public competition on a 

 royalty basis, plus premium. 



" Spot" mills continue a source of trouble, and in some instances 

 of waste, owing to their inability to break down large logs. During 

 the term of office of the late Acting-Conservator, Mr. H. Mackay, a 



