xviu 



2^ per cent, per annum compound in- 

 terest would amount to iil,600, whilst 

 if the trees matured iu 81 j-ears the com- 



Sound interest would be dB80U; but if 

 [r. Brown's figures be adopted, only 

 J&400 would have to be deducted from 

 the sale of the timber planted at a first 

 cost of dfc;iOO, No allowance has been 

 made for maintenance, as this is met 

 from the sale of the thinnings. In Eng- 

 land, where the cost of labour more near- 

 ly approaches the rates prevailing in Tas- 

 mania, Dr. Schlich, a forest authority, 

 states that allowing 100 years for the 

 growth of the pine and 2^ per cent, com- 

 pound interest for the money laid out, 

 the result is <£]83, equivalent to 7s. 

 6d. per acre per annum after all ex- 

 penses are paid, so surely with the 

 quicker growth in Tasmania the esti- 

 mate of 23. per acre is a very safe one, 

 presuming the trees are allowed to come 

 to maturity. But I would not suggest 

 this, but rather that the button grass 

 land be planted with spruce, Scotch fir, 

 and, as suggested by Mr. Rodway, 

 stringy bark, and that a twenty year 

 rotation be adopted for the stringy bark, 

 las the tree after this would not be suit- 

 able for pulp. Allowing only stringy 

 bark to be grown, and assuming that 

 the growth is only that of the spruce, it 

 would take 71,400 acres to supply the 

 American consumption of wood for the 

 pulp industry, estimated at 90,000 tons 

 yearly. Allowing the spruce to weigh 

 when green 401b. per cube foot, this 

 would give 5,000.000. and the German 

 yield of spruce, 20 years old, is given as 

 1,400ft. per acre. 



For spruce and Scotch fir a rotation 

 of 60 years might be adopted. This 

 would give the yield per acre as 5,40Oft., 

 57,300 acres to supply this requirement 

 annually, and would enable a most pro- 

 fitable industry to be established; an 

 industry that pays so well that the 

 American Papffr Trust can afford to 

 give 30 — 40 per cent, more for an old 

 mill than it would cost to erect a new 

 one with up-to-date appliances. 



It is very probable that the button 

 grass land might require some open 

 drains before it be planted, but the ad- 

 vantage would be that we should be ex- 

 porters instead of importers of deal and 

 pine woods, and also that the oak could 

 be grown as well as the pine by having 

 the tap roots cut when planted, it 

 having been shown by Duhamel that 

 this does not interfere with the growth of 

 the tree, but on the contrary, when the 

 subsoil is sour, the growth is hastened. 

 This has been largely adopted with great 

 success on the Landes in France. 



On the siandy wastes on the North- 

 West Coast of Tasmania the Pinus pin- 

 aster might be planted with advantage. 



This would arrest the sand, and large 

 areas of ground recovered for cultiva- 

 tion, leaving belts of pine to prevent 

 the sand again moving, and after the 

 pinaster has run its course, the Scotch 

 fir might be planted, as the soil would 

 then be in a fit state to grow it. 



One of the principal products of the 

 Pinus pinaster is resin and turpentine, 

 after which the wood is used for cha.- 

 coal or firewood. It might, very pos- 

 sibly, having lost its resin, be also good 

 for pulp. 



The oak. as well as the pine, would 

 serve to increase the exports, and in 

 compartively few years stop the imports, 

 and cause a large export trade. For, 

 owing to the ruthless manner in which 

 the forests in America are being denuded 

 of timber, the price is almost certain 

 to rise, thus increasing the profit on all 

 timber trees that are now planted. 



The oak will find a ready sale for 

 staves for barrels, which are now im- 

 ported into Australia for the wine in- 

 dustry, and it is to be hoped that the 

 cider industry will soon increase under 

 federation in Tasmania. 



One of the principal difficulties in ex- 

 tending the timber trade of Tasmania is 

 decidedly the uncertain quality of the 

 timber. This would, in a great measure, 

 be overcome by the introduction of a 

 Forest Department, for then, instead 

 of the present license sj'stem, the tiees 

 that would have to be cut would be 

 marked, and sold hy auction. The ap- 

 proximate quantity required being esti- 

 mated by the department, by this means, 

 the trees would be ringed at the proper 

 time. I am informed that the period 

 for the rise and fall of the sap varies 

 with the ages of the tree. Facilities 

 would be given for carting the timber, 

 or else it would be felled by the depart- 

 ment, and the tress taken to a depot, 

 and then sold. This latter system is in 

 force in manj^ parts of India. 



For maintenance the usual average is 

 5 days work per acre, or from 40 — 60 

 acres per man. This, on ^an estimate of 

 600,000 acres, being carefully looked 

 after, would require 10,000 men; thua 

 an extra population of 30,000 people 

 would be supported, exclusive of saw- 

 mills; whilst making, preparation of tur- 

 pentine, etc., would support some thou- 

 sands more. 



The total j'ield of an acre of spruce, 

 60 j'Cars old, after adding the amount 

 given by the thinnings, may be taken 

 at 8,250ft., so that after allowing 25s. a 

 year for labour, any price over 2^d. per 

 cubic foot would be profit (5d. per foot 

 is allowed in England). No allowance 

 has been made for the rapid growth of 

 spruce in these colonies, as it has been 

 left for a margin of safety, as these are 



