352 TRANSACTIONS OP ROYAL SCOTTISH ARBORICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



forestei', however, visiting the West Australian Court, would 

 naturally ask himself how far the cutting of so much fine timber 

 is balanced by provisions for reproducing the forests cleared. 

 The supply has been talked of as "inexhaustible"; but it does 

 not seem that the very necessary steps which are required to 

 really make them so have yet been commenced. It may be 

 hoped that a lesson will be learnt from the association at Paiis 

 of the magnificent products of forests not worked in a systematic 

 manner, with those of countries where the estimated annual yield 

 only is allowed to be cut, after very careful and scientific calcula- 

 tion ; and that, before it is too late, the companies and societies 

 now engaged in bringing to market as large an amount of matei-ial 

 as they possibly can yearly, will be induced to take steps to make 

 sure that they are not overcutting, and that their permanent 

 returns are not being endangered by the absence of measures of 

 reproduction. 



The collection sent from British India, which I had myself the 

 duty of arranging, was intended generally to show the progress 

 made of recent years in the scientific management of the Indian 

 forests, and specially to let the builders and furniture manufac- 

 turers of Europe know what can be done with the best of the 

 Indian woods in the way of art furniture, and especially of 

 carving. The Indian forests have one principal export timber, 

 the teak, the amount of the supply of which is regulated under 

 systematic working plans, so that any chance of overcutting may 

 be obviated. There is no difficulty about the sale of the yearly 

 outturn, and the timber is well known all over the world, so 

 that special exhibits to make it known and advertise it were 

 unnecessary. But it was not so generally known how well 

 the teak could lend itself to carving; and under the arrange- 

 ments made by the Inspector-General of Forests, Mr Ribbentrop, 

 this was represented by a very fine carved staircase, and by carved 

 showcases in the Imperial Court. The other export woods of 

 India are the blackwood, padouk, satinwood, ebony and sandal, 

 and the export trade in them is not very great, though about equal 

 to the demand. They are not obtained from gregarious trees or 

 produced in great abundance; so that it was unnecessary, as with 

 teak, to have them very fully represented as timbers, though, with 

 a view to increasing their value, it was deemed important to show 

 their capabilities for carving. In addition to these woods, how- 

 ever, India produces several which are common and capable of 



