49 



thrives almost anywhere, and reproduces itself as freely as could be desired. It would be 

 part of the duty of each forest guard to make and maintain one of these plantations, so that 

 the outlay would be moderate, and I am convinced that plantations of an area sufficient to 

 provide a supply of wattles equal to that at present obtained from the Crown forests 

 would, if properly managed, not only be self-supporting, but also pay handsomely, and con- 

 tribute a not inconsiderable sum towards the cost of forest protection. Each acre planted 

 could be cut over every two years and would yield wattles enough for eight huts, every 

 year ; this should give a money return exceeding largely the cost of cultivation and of 

 maintenance. 



Bamboo might also be tried for hut building. In South Asia, it is the staple 

 material for the purpose. Some species grow with marvellous rapidity and may prove 

 more generally useful than the Australian wattles, if the Natives can be induced to use 

 them ; but at first they should be tried only experimentally. Kurr enumerates among 

 other Asiatic bamboos used for building purposes : Bambusa vulgaris, Wendl. B. 

 Balcooa, Roxb., B, Tulda, Roxb., B. arund^naoea, Roxb., Gigantochloa aspera, Kurz, 

 G. alter, Kurz, G. maxima, Kurz, and Dendrocalamus Hamiltoni, Nees. D Strictus,, 

 Nees, is another useful species. There is a Natal species Arundinana tesselata, Munro, 

 the Berg bamboo, which ascends to 6,500 feet, and might be tried for culture at high 

 elevations. 



Special facilities, such as the distribution of seed at a nominal cost, could be given 

 to those natives who may wish to grow wattles themselves, but it is not to be expected 

 that this course, alone, would prove sufficient, at any rate for a long time to come. 



Some of the trees in the wattle plantations would be reserved to bear seed, and a 

 supply of timber suitable for poles and kraalwood would be obtainable in a few years ; 

 but in many places natives might build their cattle kraals of stone, and dispense with, 

 kraalwood altogether. 



The cutting of wattles will have to be continued in both demarkated and unde- 

 markated forests till a sufficient supply is derivable from the forest stations, but it should 

 be regulated and limited to species not reserved as timber trees. 



Natives should not be allowed to cut firewood in a demarkated forest without a 

 license, and the issue of licenses should be dependent upon the supply of Thorn and sugar 

 bush in the vicinity. They may be permitted to remove dry wood that can be got 

 without cutting, but they should not be allowed to take an axe into the forest except with 

 special permission. At present, they are in the habit of felling for firewood any con- 

 venient tree, whether it may be useful for timber or no*. The tree is left in the forest 

 till it has become dry, and it is then cut up and removed. Where the forests are worked 

 there is no difficulty about firewood, as the dry crowns and waste wood provide an 

 abundant supply. 



