90<J Agrictiltural Journal of Victoria. 



rare. Summary recovery might also be provided for, the present 

 " show cause " process being slow and ineffective. 



A specially severe penalt}' should be provided for the vandal 

 custom, in districts remote from supervision, of barking- eucalypts for 

 the sake of the bark. Local justices, from association and otherwise, 

 sometimes have a tender feeling for the defendant, and look upon 

 forest oifences with a lenient eye. 



• Only recently the Metropolitan Board of Works saw reason to 

 complain of the small penalty inflicted on a man convicted of removing 

 timber from the special reservation adjoining the Board's property. 

 One of the two presiding justices was connected by marriage with the 

 culprit. This prosecution was a troublesome one, and occupied the 

 time of three government officers in detecting the offender and securing 

 a conviction. 



NUESEEIES AN] I PLANTATIONS. 



The latter are looking well, and have been added to during the 

 year. They are under the direction of a trained expert who estimates 

 the selling value of the produce of the large plantation at Creswick 

 at £300 per acre in 50 years' time — with some revenue between now 

 and then — granted a continuity of effort and necessary expenditure. 

 It may be taken from such a source that the figures can be relied on. 

 They are alluring. But it may be reasonably questioned whether 

 there is any very great certainty that such continuity of effort and 

 money provision will be afforded for that length of time, and whether 

 for so protracted a period, fire will spare our pineries, notwithstanding 

 watchfulness and a system of fire breaks. Yet, if the Department is 

 to produce pine timber, these risks must be taken. Some three 

 hundred plants will be added to the valuable little valonia oak plan- 

 tation this season. 



The nurseries at Macedon and North Creswick have again turned 

 out a great quantity of first-class stock for the (Tovernment plantations 

 and institutions, for other institutions, and for public bodies generally. 

 Many thousands of suitable young trees have also been distributed to 

 country residents, more particularly farmers in dry districts. 



As instructed, a special effort was made to meet the unexpected 

 requisition of the Director of Education for trees for a general 

 arl)or day for all the State schools. It is in evidence that the response 

 was satisfactory to that gentleman. 



Some thirteen hundred schools were supplied with more than a 

 total of thirty thousand trees, all perfectly packed and distinctly 

 labelled. This, at a time of general distribution, refiects credit on 

 Mr. J. Firth (the Superintendent) and his staff'. 



Improvement Thinning. 



During the year this work has proceeded under strict conditions, 

 and as close supervision as the strength of the staff' permits of, with 

 a view to improve the reserves by removing inferior and crooked 

 growth and at the same time meeting the demand for mining 

 timber, fuel, telegraph poles, piles, &c., &c. 



