958 PROCEEDINGS OF SECTION G. 
Having shown, simply from a farmer’s point of view, the absurd 
complexity of ow system of weights and measures, or rather want 
of system in our weights and measures, the questions now arise: 
What is to be done to simplify them? What do I propose as a 
remedy? My answer is, simply adopt the Metric System, 
No. 19.—FORESTRY IN NEW SOUTH WALES. 
By W.S8. Campset, F.L.8., Chief Inspector, Department of 
Agriculture, New South Wales. 
(Read Wednesday, 12 Junuary, 1898.) 
I am pleased to have the present opportunity of inviting attention 
to the very important matter of forestry in this Colony, for up to 
the present time, the subject seems generally to have been treated 
with the utmost indifference, and want of thought by the public. 
Strictly speaking, my subject should, perhaps, have been entitled 
‘Forests in New South Wales,” for the term forestry, in its 
general acceptation, may, I think, be taken to indicate the care and 
preservation of forests ; but, as our forests have received but little 
care or preservation, the term forestry can hardly be said to be 
applicable to this Colony ; at any rate not in the same sense in which 
it is applied to the scientific forestry which obtains on the continent 
of Europe (?)—in France, Germany, Russia—and also in India. 
Probably but few persons have enjoyed better opportunities of 
forming an opinion of the condition of our forests, or of our 
indigenous vegetation, than myself, in the course of my varied 
duties in the country, and I shall not hesitate in speaking plainly 
about a few matters bearing on my subject. 
In this Colony the settlers, as a rule, appear to have one great 
object in view, namely, to wage a war of extermination against 
all trees, in a most thoughtless manner, utterly oblivious to the 
possibility that their actions may eventuate in disaster. It is 
unnecessary for me to make more than a passing allusion to 
similar rash and ill-advised work carried on some years ago in 
continental countries, which necessitated the expenditure of vast 
sums of money to remedy the mischief effected, by replanting 
denuded areas, and the introduction of stringent laws, which are 
strictly enforced, to protect all forests, and even private forests, 
over which the owners have but little, if any, control. 
In America, thoughtful persons are becoming quite alarmed 
about the denudation of the country. In a copy of the Indian 
Forester, received by me to day, I find the following quotation 
from the Yew York Tribune :—“ To be able to say that exports 
