17 



Some of the frontier forests are easily reached from the Free State, and it is reported 1 

 that the inhabitants of Harrismith district formerly obtained wood from this source. The- 

 practice does not seem to have died out altogether ; a case recently tried before the- 

 Resident Magistrate at Ladysmith resulted in a conviction. 



A few of the grazing leases contain forests, and none should be sold before ascertain- 

 ing whether it includes any. 



The next cluster of forests is found north of Van Reenen's Pass, partly on the Crown 

 Lot " Nolens Volens ; " they are situated on steep south and south-east slopes, at from 

 5,000 to 5,500 feet altitude. The principal kinds of timber noted in these were : Hard Pear, 

 Beukenhout, Zwartbast, Upright and Outeniqua Yellowwood, Onai, White Pear, Red 

 Pear, Ironwood, Kamdeboo Stinkwood, Wild Chesnut, White Ironwood, Assagai, Natal' 

 Mahogany, Celastrus peduncularis, Chilianthus sp., Plectonia spinosa, and Halleria lucida. 

 Buddlea salvicefolia and Leucosidea sericea are abundant along the edge of the forests.. 

 Greyia Sutherlandl is a conspicuous low tree on rocky cliffs at high elevations. Most 

 of the ground near the forests is too steep or stony to admit of cultivation, and inealie^ 

 gardens are few in number. Part of the forest has been entirely denuded of young 

 timber through wattle cutting and cattle grazing. Beyond " Nolens Volens," it remains 

 doubtful whether the belt of forest is not confined within the boundaries of the farms 

 " Brakwall " and " Roslyn." The total area of the forests on this point is about 1,000 

 acres, but part may be situated on private lands. 



Between these forests and the Biggarsberg, private farms are continuous ; they have 

 been surveyed almost up to the Natal boundary, and the few wooded kloofs that may be 

 seen are all situated on private property. 



At the Biggarsberg, there are about 1,000 acres of forest, in four or five pieces. 

 One forest covering about 300 acres, is situated near the farm " Ombekend ;" it does 

 not contain any large timber, but I found that poles had been cut surreptitiously a short 

 time before ; the species are mainly the same as those found in the forests near Van 

 Reenen's Pass. 



Between the farm " Cundycloigh " and the Berg, two small forests, together 500 

 acres in area, have suffered much damage at the hands of former woodcutters. Quite 

 half of the one nearest the Drakensberg has been burnt out by successive fires in recent 

 years, and the remainder has been ruined by irregular working. I was informed that 

 only last winter, it was set on fire by some Free State Boers to drive out the game. The 

 other forest, near the road to Nelson's Kop is larger, but not protected any better, and 

 unlicensed cutting is said to be frequent and free. 



FORESTS IN NEWCASTLE DIVISION. Nearly 9,000 acres of Crown forest 

 are found in the Division of Newcastle. They are mostly situated . in kloofs or 

 south-east slopes of the Drakensberg, or on spurs jutting from the main chain-,, 



