20± 



imaginary sandalwood forest, merely to give an idea of the 

 information required. The returns, when received from dif- 

 ferent parts, should be compiled into one which should be laid 

 on the council table for the consideration of the Government. 

 When correct information is supplied, Government will be in 

 a position to take proper steps for conserving the sandalwood 

 in the places where it may be growing naturally; or from the 

 few trees that may be growing in one place abandon such a 

 place ; or else by planting increase the number of trees so as to 

 make conservancj^ worth the trouble. 



In any scheme of re- wooding for climatic reasons the dry 

 parts of Vitu Levu, and Macuata coast in Vanua Levu, sandal- 

 wood, from its value, hardiness. &c., and adaptation to these 

 parts, should hold a foremost place. The tree is a slow- 

 growing one, and compared with some other trees never attains 

 a large size, seldom exceeding 3 feet in circumference at 3 feet 

 above ground. It will probably require about 60 years to 

 reach maturity. 



It.^ wood is dense, hard, and heavy. Its present value in 

 Fiji is about 101. per ton at the lowest. India is the only place 

 in which it is being preserved and increased. In all the South 

 Sea Islands, if not exterminated, the trees are rapidly decreasing 

 in number. The wood is daily becoming scarcer and dearer, 

 and being a natural product of Fiji, the subject of increasing 

 and making plantations of it, ought to be taken up by the 

 Government. About GOO trees of it, at the least, can be 

 grown and matured on an acre. The trees, when mature, will 

 give an average value of 10* each, at the least ; this at present 

 ie (which is rapidly increasing) would be 300?. per acre, 

 and, deducting expense of planting, guarding, cutting and 

 transporting the wood to the coast, there would be about 150?. 

 per acre at the least to the good. 



In making a plantation of it, the .young trees should be put 

 down at the distance apart of 6 x 12 feet = about GOO trees 

 per acre. 



that yield caoutchouc could be planted between 

 them at 12 x 6 feet apart, Thus — 



x indicate f x • x • x 



3andalw I, and J • x • x 



utchouc trees. ( x • x • x • 



Tin 11 but rapid growing tree, and its produce would 



for the up keeping of the sandalwood tree- while the 



were young. A- the sandalwood trees increase in size, 



