THE NATURAL FORESTS 179 



building material, fuel, cordage, and bark cloth 

 for the natives. We have an example in Inham- 

 bane of a country having been denuded of its 

 forests, possessing no timber and no fuel, or very 

 little, and the Government should take steps to 

 prevent other parts of the territory being over- 

 taken by a like fate. Certain lines to be followed 

 present themselves to the mind ; but it is neces- 

 sary first of all to accept the fact that the vast 

 proportion of the forest area is destined to be 

 cleared to make room for the cultivation of 

 valuable products of commerce, and that there 

 is no point in spending money in conserving 

 timber doomed to the stubbing machine and the 

 tiames. Kegulations that may be made should 

 not be of a hampering character calculated to 

 hinder the free expansion of new industries. 

 Accepting that position, it would be necessary to 

 make provision for the preserving of forest belts 

 or blocks at convenient intervals. These reserves 

 could be thrown open by rotation to permit their 

 being resorted to for the collection of firewood, 

 and for the cutting of timber for fencing and 

 building, and then closed again for a renewal of 

 growth. I doubt the wisdom of preservmg par- 

 ticular species, as, for example, has been done in 

 the case of Acacia nigrescens in the south. A 

 tree that is valuable for its timber can only be 



