25 



information regarding the uses of local timbers and experimenting with the 

 view of finding new uses for them. The question of seasoning is also one 

 requiring serious attention. These and other questions mentioned under 

 Research (paragraph 14) should be taken up by the Research Officer when 

 appointed. 



One firm has already taken steps to instal seasoning and impregnation 

 plants. 



24. PRICES. Within recent years local timber prices have become 

 inflated beyond all reason. I have endeavoured to form an accurate estimate 

 of working expenses in connection with the extraction and conversion of timber, 

 and am unable to reconcile these, even allowing for all possible difficulties, 

 with the high prices demanded for timber in the local market. Government 

 royalties represent only a small percentage of the working costs, and are not 

 responsible for these high prices, which will have to be reduced considerably 

 before there can be any marked development in the utilization of indigenous 

 timbers. 



The following are some of the prices in florins per ton recently quoted for 

 timber at Nairobi : 



Cedar scantlings 162168, boards 180240. 



Podocarpus 132150, 144192. 



Musharagi 150192, 168240. 



Mueri 192, 180240. 



25. CEDAR FOR PENCIL MANUFACTURE. A certain amount of interest 

 has been shown for some years past in the question of utilizing East African 

 cedar for pencil manufacture, but this has for the most part taken the form 

 of instituting enquiries and collecting information of somewhat academic 

 value, while little of a practical nature has been done so far to develop trade 

 in a wood which has a decided potential value for pencil manufacture. The 

 question is one of Imperial importance, since the East African cedar is the 

 sole source of supply of pencil cedar in commercial quantities within the 

 Empire. Information from reliable sources indicates that future supplies 

 of American pencil cedar (Juniperus virginiana) are by no means assured, 

 and substitutes are already in use. On the other hand, with strict conserva- 

 tion and proper management the cedar forests of Kenya Colony should be 

 able to provide large and perpetual supplies of wood for pencil manufacture. 

 This being so, more care should be taken to prevent the wasteful use of cedar 

 of good quality for building, fencing and other purposes. With this end 

 in view it will be advisable to set aside, as early as possible, suitable tracts 

 of cedar forest primarily for the production of pencil wood, only such por- 

 tions of the outturn as are unsuitable for this purpose, or are in excess of 

 the demand, being utilized for other purposes. Care in the selection of such 

 tracts will be necessary in order to ensure : (1) wood of the best quality for 

 pencils, and (2) easy and cheap extraction. 



The question of turning out pencil slats of superior quality at a reason- 

 ably cheap rate is a most important one. At the inflated prices for timber 

 which have prevailed in the local markets within recent years, combined with 

 the high cost of railing to the coast, there will be little hope of establishing 

 a trade in East African cedar for pencils in competition with foreign sources 

 of supply. The setting aside of suitable tracts of cedar forest for the pro- 

 duction of pencil wood, to be worked by or on behalf of firms interested in 

 pencil manufacture, should remove competition with the local timber market. 

 The industry should be regarded as a pioneer one, to be encouraged for the 

 first few years by reduced royalties and preferential railway rates. 



26. THE CEDAR FUNGUS. The East African cedar is subject to the 

 attacks of a wood-rot fungus, Forties juniperinus, Schrenk, which is identical 



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