NOTES AND QUERIES. 527 



ment, and it is left to individuals to look after the welfare of the 

 country. The two Arboricultural Societies in Great Britain 

 have already done good service in diffusing a knowledge of 

 Forestry, and it is hoped that a somewhat similar Society in 

 Ireland will meet with the approval and support of landed pro- 

 prietors, gentlemen, and tenant farmers. It is intended to hold 

 a meeting of all who are interested in its object, in the work of 

 the "Winter Show, at Ball's Bridge, so as to put the Society into 

 working order. In the meantime we have to express a hope that 

 you will encourage the good work by intimating to us that you 

 are willing to join the Society. The annual subscription to the 

 English Society is 10s. 6d., and probably this Society will adopt 

 the same. It is hoped that the Government may be ultimately 

 induced to put in force an organisation for the administration of 

 forest lands and the replanting of waste, and especially of hill- 

 side areas, as has been done with such manifest advantage to our 

 Indian Empire. 



We await a favourable answer from you, and remain, 



Your obedient Servants, 



Charles G. Grey, | Joint Hon. Sees., 

 James Muxford, j pro tern. 



The new Society will have much useful work before it, and 

 will have our heartiest good wishes fur its success. 



The Cape of Good Hope. 



In his annual report for the year 1900, Mr Hutchins, who has 

 charge of the "Western Conservancy, states that the Forest Bill, 

 to which the Government stood pledged, was, unfortunately, not 

 proceeded with during the previous session of Parliament. "The 

 national forests," he says, " remain with an uncertain tenure, and 

 until they are properly secured, the danger of serious disaster is 

 very real." Over a quarter of a million pounds sterling have 

 been spent in the Colony on these forests, chiefly in the western 

 portion, where the greatest demand for timber exists. The outlay 

 during 1899 amounted to £263,491 ; and the value of the wood 

 annually imported into the Colony is about £250,000. 



"We join Mr Hutchins in trusting that these valuable national 

 properties may be secured to the Colony by a strong protective 

 enactment, before it is too late to rescue them from destruction 



