ADDRESS BY THE PRESIDENT, NOVEMBER 3, 1875. 11 



fuel. He dwells specially on the destruction of forests, and makes 

 the following remarks : — 



" The effect of the destruction of forests is the result of the per- 

 sistent and reckless disregard of a plain natural law. To strip a 

 semi-tropical country of its forests is to convert it into an arid 

 deserti In more temperate countries denudation of timber pro- 

 duces barrenness of soil, increases insect life, creates drought, 

 diminishes rain, accelerates evaporation, causes floods and un- 

 timely frost, lessens the production of food, diminishes population, 

 and finally degrades a nation. The glory of many an ancient 

 empire has departed with its forests. To-day Persia and Spain 

 present sad but warning spectacles of desolation and degradation, 

 which, though partially due to various causes, have been intensified 

 by the destruction of their forests." 



Mr Firth points out the necessity for conservation of forests in New 

 Zealand, otherwise some of the best trees, such as the Kauri, will be 

 doomed to extinction. He maintains that Government shoidd not 

 sell for cultivation any forest land. The forest lands in the hands of 

 natives ought to be purchased by Government as quickly as possible. 



Mr Firth points out that forestry, as practised in Europe, can 

 only apply to the cutting of timber in New Zealand in its general 

 principles because the trees there are much larger than in European 

 forests. The Kauri (Dammara australis), and many other forest 

 trees, vary from 3 feet to 9 or 10 feet in diameter, and grow on 

 the sides of valleys or gullies more or less precipitous. It is not 

 easy to know how trees of this diameter, and running up to 70 or 

 80 feet without a branch, can be felled without inflicting much 

 damage on the surrounding young timber. 



Baron von Mueller, director of the State Garden, Melbourne, 

 has published a pamphlet on Australian Vegetation. In speaking 

 of the baron's exertions, the Marquis de Beauvin, in his " Voyage 

 Round the World, 1866-68," says :— 



" Besides the charming public gardens at Melbourne, there is a 

 Botanical Garden situated on a verdant hill. This is the little 

 kingdom of Dr Mueller. The misfortune of Australia is the want 

 of water. Dr Mueller wishes to remedy this ; he is succeeding. 

 He distiibutes over the interior of the country thousands of shrubs 

 and young trees reared in his nurseries. Little streams form 

 rapidly round the young woods. The results are splendid already ; 

 and each year confirms this. On barren plains he has created 

 woods and streams in more than a hundred places." 



