630 PROCEEDINGS OF SECTION G. 



agent in germinating many of the seeds of our forest trees ; but the 

 trouble often is that your seedlings that resulted from the germinat- 

 ing agency of fire in the first instance are perhaps scorched to death 

 by a second fire just when you do not want or appreciate its services. 



The custom of ringing trees to increase the growth of grass is 

 another of the factors connected w4th grazing that result in the 

 depletion of our forest areas. Not infrequently on badly-drained 

 flats it produces swamps, and whatever increase in grass may result 

 it is dearly bought when the timber is of large size and would be 

 of considerable value at some future date. Of all methods of 

 clearing timber it is certainly the most ghastly and uncanny in its 

 effects on the landscape. 



A kindred practice, and one responsible for a large amount of 

 damage to one species of timber tree, is the felling of the sheoak 

 ( Casuarina quadrivalvifij for the sake of the very nourishing 

 fodder contained in its leaves (so-called). This was practised 

 largely in the earlier days, and thousands of acres have been 

 denuded of these trees in hilly and other parts when grass has 

 failed in bad seasons and "sheoaking" became an imperative 

 necessity. The mistake was in felling the tree to its vitter destruc- 

 tion when by judiciously lopping the main limbs — or "pollarding," 

 to use the correct term — the same effect could have been secured, and 

 the trees could still have continued performing the double function 

 of growing fresh fodder and protecting the ranges from denudation. 



The clearing and grubbing of land for agriculture and horti- 

 culture has caused the deforestation of considerable tracts of 

 country. Where this clearing has been limited to plain lands 

 and the upland of gentler grade no objection can be raised, except 

 as regards the great Avant of judgment too often shown in failing 

 to leave broad belts of timber for shelter against winds and clumps 

 of trees for a protection for stock. The total clearance of all 

 timber without regard to this very important consideration in many 

 places has largely added to the trying and blighting eft'ects of both 

 hot and cold -ndnds, and the clearing of the steeper hillsides for 

 agriculture has produced very unsatisfactory results in many ways. 



The various causes of deforestation having now been referred to, 

 it remains to note the probable results. 



The question naturally arises here as to what advantages the 

 existence of foi*ests secures to a country, and the reply will now be 

 sought as briefly as may be. 



A supply of timber is one advantage that most people readily 

 admit can be derived from forests. There are otlier advantages, 

 however, which, though possibly under some conditions even more 

 vital to the welfare of a community, are not so readily perceived, 

 and it is on this head that special comment is necessary. 



Basing opinions on observations not always of the most complete 

 or correct nature many have ardently supported the view, held by 

 many, that forests decidedly increase the rainfall. Others maintain 



