374 Africa. 



In Africa, during the last few years small forest de- 

 partments have been established by the governments 

 of the Soudan, East Africa, Nigeria, Transvaal, Orange 

 River and Natal, mostly for the purpose of planting on 

 the treeless plains. 



The government of Mauritius had made attempts 

 at conservancy for many years, but without notable 

 success. 



The most successful attempt in Africa so far is 

 reported from Cape Colony, which as early as 1819 

 had a Superintendent of Lands and Woods, and in 

 1876 a Department of Forests and Plantations, neither 

 of which have left much of record. 



In 1881 a new forest department under a French 

 forest officer was started, which has grown until now 

 its consists of one Conservator (D. E. Hutchins), 22 

 Assistant Conservators, 84 European foresters, and a 

 few native guards. In 1888 the needed legislation was 

 had for regulating the working of the nearly half 

 million acres of forest area, which, in 1902, was de- 

 clared inalienable government property. Since the 

 wood imports amount to over two million and a quar- 

 ter dollars annually, the need of conservative use is 

 appreciated especially as climatic conditions are un- 

 favorable to reproduction. Some 24,000 acres have 

 been planted during 22 years, at a cost of $1,500,000, 

 the first plantations beginning to yield a substantial 

 revenue, and it is believed that another 40,000 acres 

 of such plantations would supply all the timber 

 needed in the Colony. Treeplanting by private land 

 owners and municipalities is encouraged by furnishing 

 advice gratis and plant material at low cost, and to 



