960 PROCEEDINGS OF SECTION G. 
the injury remains. Bush fires cause an immense amount of 
damage to forest trees—far more than is generally supposed— 
notwithstanding their wonderful recuperative powers. 
Fortunately for us, the predominating timber trees—the 
eucalypts—will very speedily reafforest a denuded area, if per- 
mitted. The growth of most of them is rapid—some remarkably 
rapid—and the timber of even the saplings is strong and sound. 
I have seen eucalypts in the course of fifteen years attain a 
diameter of 18 inches, and a height of 80 to 100 feet. One of our 
best timber trees, the blackbutt (Hucalyptus pilularis), is remark- 
able both for quickly re-establishing itself on cleared land if not 
interfered with, and for itsrapid growth. At the same time there 
are enemies which must be considered when the time comes for 
steps to be taken to properly conserve our forest areas. One serious 
enemy is stock. <A nibble or two will most certainly affect the 
growth of a young tree, and cause defects from which it may never 
recover. To enter fully into these matters would necessitate an 
altogether too lengthy paper, but I merely mention them to show 
that to gain a good and perfect ‘“‘ gum-tree ” some care and protec- 
tion may be necessary. 
One of the most serious matters to deal with is that of ring- 
barking. There is nothing to my mind more miserable or more 
sickening than travelling for miles and miles through dead ring- 
barked timber. Very often there is not a single living tree 
permitted to remain as shade or shelter for stock. Tn such country 
oftentimes circular tracks may be seen round the butts of the dead 
trees, made by the wretched beasts following the scanty shade 
from the broiling rays of the sun. During a severe drought I 
have seen hundreds of sheep dying in the blazing sun, without a 
single shady spot which might ease to some extent their agony. 
Tt seems to me absolutely wicked for men to ruthlessly destroy 
every living tree for the sake of a little grass. A certain propor- 
tion of forest to area held should be preserved, and this should be 
enforced by law, as is the case, for instance, in Russia where, I 
think, the proportion is about 5 per cent. 
The necessity for preserving large areas of the existing forest in 
our dry western districts seems to me to be a matter of the very 
greatest concern, not only to the western country but also to the 
whole of the colony. I cannot but think that in the event of the 
destruction of the forests there our climate may be affected to a 
considerable extent, and our hot blasting winds will become more 
severe and more injurious. On the open treeless plains I have 
observed the destructive effects of wind on the soil. Small cyclones 
may frequently be seen whirling and sweeping along, tearing up 
the surface soil to a depth of some 3 or 4, and even sometimes 6, 
inches, carrying it along in thin high columns, called ‘ booroo- 
muggas” by the blacks. When these winds sweep and dance about, 
