120 ON THE TIMBER SUPPLY OF AUSTRALIA. 



£2200 



This does not include the salary of the Conservator of Forests, 

 which ought to be not less than £400 a-year ; and if we intend to 

 keep three forest nurseries and establishments for planting, also a 

 travelling party, who may attend to the travelling reserves about 

 to be planted, a sum of £3000 may be required after the first year, 

 and a sum total of £9000 for the first year. I believe it is too un- 

 certain to calculate the direct profits which may be received by the 

 Government or Forest Board as a return for such outlay. Mr T. 

 Calcutt, of New Zealand, says in a memorandum as to the cost of 

 planting and managing forest trees : " I have little or no hesitation 

 in believing that £10,000 expended properly in planting trees 

 would within fifty years result in their having a market value of 

 half a million sterling." With a few favourable seasons at the 

 commencement, the direct profits arising after the first eight or 

 ten years ought to be sufficient to pay not only current expenses, 

 but at least interest on former outlay, and after the timber arrives 

 at maturity the whole of the principal sunk will doubtless be 

 obtained, and as much more, as will enable the State to con- 

 stantly undertake operations on a larger scale, with men who have 

 become experienced in the work, at a greatly reduced cost, and 

 with far greater certainty as to results. You will undoubtedly 

 agree with Pope's lines : 



" First follow Nature, and your judgment frame 

 By her just standard, which remains the same, 

 Unerring;" 



and only extend opei'ations in the same ratio as you have col- 

 lected much-needed experience in arboriculture. It may be that in 

 some of our reserves little more is required to ensure the certain and 

 quick growth of young saplings than to keep cattle out and to sow 



