South African Forestry 623 



of the indigenous forests (which supplied in 1914 to 1915 about 

 £20,000 of the revenue) at a little higher pressxire than can be sus- 

 tained, by the quick returns from plantations (which supplied in 

 1914 to 1915 about £24,000 of revenue), and by the very keen de- 

 mand for timber throughout South Africa even at high prices. 



Nearly all timber must be imported. The chief supplies, aside 

 from a certain amount of eucalyptus from Australia for sleepers, 

 railroad and harbor works, are Baltic timbers (P. excelsa and P. 

 syhestris) and Douglas fir. The high sea freight and high inland 

 rail freights in Africa raise a permanent protective barrier about 

 the Southern sub-continent that promises well for plantations. 

 The chief market on the Rand pays wholesale for Douglas fir 

 $38 per M feet in periods of lowest prices, and sHghtly less for Baltic 

 deals. All the smaller timbers smtable for handles, mine lagging, 

 fuel are correspondingly expensive. The prospects for profitable 

 plantations are excellent. The South African pubHc exhibit an 

 intention to grow within the country a large proportion of the 

 timber necessities, amounting in 1914 to 9,000,000 cubic feet, 

 valued at £518,000, which is now imported. 



