TIMBER IN TASMANIA. 33 



agriculture, by his ignorance wastes and destroys the 

 products of the land entrusted to him, impoverishing the 

 country, and doing no good to himself or anybody con- 

 nected with him ? And it is not alone the conservation 

 and intelligent use of the timber which already exists 

 here which concerns you, but also the propagation of 

 other kinds of wood, which now and in future, as the 

 country develops, you will require in quantities sufficient 

 to repay any reasonable expenditure in its acquirement. 

 I see that your timber merchants are importing cargoes 

 of Norwegian deals and boards, at a cost, I should say, 

 of nearly £20,000 per annum. Why not take prompt 

 measures to grow similar timber here, and keep this 

 annual payment to foreigners in your own country ? 

 Larch, fir, and pine all grow splendidly here. As a 

 proof of this assertion, pines and ash planted as far back 

 as 1821, 1840, and 1860, gave splendid results, attaining 

 12 feet in girth and 70 to 80 feet in length. I have seen 

 here very fine average oaks, beech, ash, chestnut, and 

 firs, and have not the slightest doubt that, if properly 

 chosen and planted, they would thrive well. The culti- 

 vation of these trees might be encouraged by the 

 Government leasing suitable tracts of waste lands at a 

 very low or peppercorn rent, on condition that they 

 should be used solely for this purpose. You have plenty 

 of ground in the Peninsula, Huon district, and inland 

 regions on which to make plantations, which in ten or 

 twelve years' time will already begin to show useful 

 results. But all this must be done in a methodical and 

 scientific manner, otherwise badly-directed energy will 

 end in failure and disappointment. 



From what I can learn and see, a School of Forestry, 

 Agriculture, and State Nursery would not be a very 

 expensive undertaking, even in the beginning, and ought, 

 under proper management, to become soon, at the very 

 least, a self-supporting institution, while rendering 

 invaluable services to the country. 



I have been informed, on very good authority, that a 

 suitable plot of ground can be acquired in the neighbour- 

 hood of Hobart, about 100 acres in extent, on a lease of 

 21 years, at an annual rental of £25, with the right of 



