45 



(5) Steps should be taken in regard to the administration of forests 

 and the afforestation of denuded areas in native reserves (para- 

 graphs 6 9). 



(6) Demarcation is progressing, but should be pushed on, particularly 

 in respect of forests not yet gazetted (paragraph 10) : caution should 

 be exercised in any revision of existing boundaries (paragraph 11). 



(7) Fire-protection should be strictly enforced, particularly in the 

 cedar forests (paragraph 12). 



(8) Plantation work is efficiently and economically carried out : 

 direct sowings might be tried experimentally in certain cases : exotics 

 (mainly gums and wattles) should be confined as far as possible to fuel 

 plantations, the more valuable species of indigenous trees being pro- 

 pagated for timber (paragraph 13). 



(9) Some useful silvicultural and botanical work has been accom- 

 plished, but organized research is urgently required : the ideal would be 

 a central Research Institute for Kenya,' Uganda and Tanganyika : in 

 the present state of the finances of the Colony, however, it is proposed 

 to begin by appointing one Forest Research Officer, to undertake speci- 

 fied lines of work (paragraph 14). 



(10) Working plans are urgently required, and their preparation 

 should be pushed on (paragraph 15) : as a preliminary to this a pro- 

 gramme of topographical surveys should be carried out (paragraphs 16, 

 17) : the cost of surveys is estimated at 2,000 a year for 5 years, 

 including the salaries of two surveyors, that of working plans at 740 

 a year for 5 years, excluding the salaries of two working plan officers 

 on the regular cadre (paragraph 18) : working plan operations should be 

 conducted under a regular procedure (paragraph 19). 



(11) The existing system of working the forests has grave disadvan- 

 tages (paragraph 20), and should be discarded, wherever circumstances 

 permit, in favour of a more rational system (paragraphs 21, 22). 



(12) Kenya Colony possesses some timbers of good quality, but 

 more attention should be given to the question of seasoning (para- 

 graph 23). 



(13) Local timber prices are unduly inflated, and will have to reach 

 a lower level before any marked development in the utilization of local 

 timbers is possible (paragraph 24). 



(14) The question of developing a trade in pencil cedar and safe- 

 guarding future supplies of that timber is of great importance : certain 

 proposals are made in this connection (paragraph 25). 



(15) The cedar fungus (Fomes juniperinus), which causes extensive 

 loss, may be kept in check by certain proposed measures (paragraph 26). 



(16) There is some prospect of an export trade in timber, particu- 

 larly to South Africa, but much will depend on the extent to which the 

 cost of extraction and conversion can be kept down (paragraph 27). 



(17) There is no special justification for the exploitation and mar- 

 keting of timber being carried out by the Forest Department at present, 

 but circumstances may yet render this necessary to some extent (para- 

 graph 28). 



