FORESTRY IN NEW SOUTH WALES. 959 
of some leading commodity are now 25 per cent. greater than a 
year ago, and 100 per cent. greater than ten years ago, is highly 
gratifying. Yet exceptions to the rule are quite conceivable. If 
it should appear that the growth of trade in any important pro- 
duct was tending to exhaustion of native resources, and consequent 
domestic embarassment and disaster, the circumstance would give 
rise to apprehension, rather than pleasure, and economical wisdom 
would suggest the direction of efforts toward the restriction of 
that industry, or toward such modification of it as would avoid the 
evil results threatened. That is at present the case with the 
lumber trade. It is a legitimate and important industry, and one 
which should be so cherished as to insure its profitable permanency. 
But it is now growing at a rate which threatens in the near 
future its own self-exhaustion, and the reduction of this country 
to the deplorable and ruinous state of treelessness. The facts 
cannot be concealed, and should not be ignored. Throughout alk 
the older States of the Union, forests have long since practically 
disappeared. Only a few straggling and stunted remnants remain 
of the superb sylvan growth which once clothed every hillside. 
The effect is apparent : Streams that once flowed constantly the 
year round are now overflowing torrents for a few weeks, and dry 
for months ; springs have dried up; soil has become arid and 
sterile ; droughts are more frequent ; agriculture is less profitable. 
The evils that afflict the treeless countries of the old world are 
beginning to be felt; nor are the new States of the far West 
exempt. Their abundant forests are disappearing like snow in 
Spring-time, and in their place are coming changes of climate, 
distur ances to the water supply, and the w hole train of evils that 
forest destruction inevitably entails.” 
Compared with the American forests ours in New South Wales 
are but a fleabite, and if our export trade of hardwood develops 
as is desired by some, and when the excellent qualities of our 
timbers become recognised in other countries, it will take but few 
years to sweep our forests clean away. The general idea which 
prevails, that our forests are inexhaustible, is most erroneous. 
The quantity of really good sound available timber is, in fact, very 
limited, and it is chiefly confined to the coastal districts, with some 
few exceptions. The waste by timber-cutters is enormous. If a 
30-foot girder should be required, down goes a convenient tree, 
from which a 40 or 50 foot girder could be cut, and soon. Whilst 
speaking of timber-cutting, I may mention the great amount of 
destruction which is caused, very often by the huge dead branches 
of felled trees. These branches and logs lie against good sound 
trees perhaps for years until a bush fire sets them alight, when 
great scars are burnt into the buts of the sound trees, and such a 
burn will very frequently completely spoil a tree. The scar may 
be in course of time, and often is, covered over by the bark, but 
