126 TRANSACTIONS OF ROYAL SCOTTISH ARBORICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



sequence of reckless forestry. Australia must either produce its 

 own timber or import it, at incredible cost, from the other side 

 of the world. 



And the pity of the whole matter is intensified when one 

 comes to see, as I have during the last two years, what fine 

 forests Australia can produce. I have measured and photo- 

 graphed Eucalypts 300 feet in height. There are measured 

 samples of Kari and Eucalypt regnant forest with at least 

 20,000 cubic feet per acre of sawable milling timber. The 

 present evidence is in favour of Eucalypts being the tallest tree 

 in the world, and the Seqjwias being the bulkiest. Sawmillers 

 have taken ;^5oo worth of timber off a single acre of Blue-gum 

 forest in Tasmania. But with all this potential forest wealth, 

 Australia when the war broke out was importing 50 million 

 cubic feet of timber yearly, and exporting only 12 million, while 

 every hot wind takes its toll of blackened and ruined forests. 



Wellington, N.Z. 

 April, 1 91 6. 



19. A New Steam Tree-Feller. 



( With Plate.) 

 By John Scrimgeour. 



During the last two years great activity has prevailed in the 

 home timber trade. The woodlands of Scotland have been 

 drawn upon largely, and their owners have benefited by the 

 enhanced prices. The patriotic landowners, who planted under 

 by no means encouraging conditions, are now getting well 

 deserved rewards. These are times when it behoves everyone 

 to consider how the labour bill can be reduced and timber put 

 on the market at the smallest possible outlay. In view of the 

 ever-increasing shortage of skilled labour, it is important that 

 proprietors, foresters and timber merchants should look for and 

 encourage the most up-to-date labour-saving machinery. 



Whilst there seems to be no end to the number of ingenious 

 machines continually being designed for the more rapid con- 

 version of timber in the sawmill or joiner's workshop, the felling 

 in the forest has till now been all done by hand. In felling the 

 heavier timber trees, and especially hardwoods, the brain and 

 brawn of the woodmen have too often been taxed to their utmost 



