6o 



THE FORESTER. 



March, 



is the principal timber tree of western 

 Australia, judging by its extensive distribu- 

 tion, varied use, large sale, and the good 

 opinion held of it. The Jarrah averages 

 100 feet in height and 3 feet in diameter, 

 these dimensions being reached at about 

 50 years of age. For constructive works, 

 particularly where immersion in water is 

 necessary, this timber seems to be espe- 

 cially well adapted on account of its great 

 durability. Sixty-year-old piles show no 

 sign of decay. This quality makes it de- 

 sirable for fence posts and railway ties. 



Growing with the Jarrah is another of 

 the same species, the Karri {Eucalyptus 

 diversicofor) . This is the giant tree of 

 western Australia. It averages 200 feet 

 in height and 4 feet in diameter. While 

 its lasting qualities are not as great as 

 those of Jarrah, the timber of Karri is 

 much preferred for superstructural works, 

 on account of its great strength. 



Another Eucalypt {E . gomphoceph- 

 /a), known as Tuart, is mentioned as 

 the next best commercial tree of western 

 Australia. It does not reach as large di- 

 mensions as Jarrah or Karri, but it excels 

 them in toughness of wood, which makes 

 it preferable where hardness is desired. 



The trade in Sandalwood {Santalum 

 cygnornm} has reached such proportions 

 that the Government found it necessary to 

 set apart a considerable area of cut-over 

 Sandalwood country and prohibit lumber- 

 ing thereon for two years. Should this 

 not be time enough to permit the young 

 trees to reach maturity, the restriction will 

 be continued until such time as the trees 

 are considered ripe for the axe. 



Owing to the hardness and weight of its 

 native timbers western Australia has had 

 to import most of the \vood used in every- 

 day work. Conservator Brown believes 

 that most of the trees which produce this 

 timber can be grown at home, and it is 

 hoped a fair trial will be given them. 

 Many species of our native trees are 

 recommended. The list includes Maple, 

 Hickory, Pine, the Red Fir, Black Wal- 

 nut, Catalpa and White Oak. 



Considerable space is devoted to de- 

 scriptions of the operations upon each 

 lease. A score of pictures at the end of 

 the report illustrate the forests described 

 and the methods of transporting the logs 

 and lumber. 



JOHN FOLEY, 

 Washington, D. C. 



Recent Legislation. 



Forest Management in New York. 



Albany, March ist. Governor Roose- 

 velt to-day appointed a new Forest, Fish 

 and Game Commission as follows: 



W. Austin Wadsworth, of Geneseo ; 

 Percy Lansdowne, of Buffalo ; Frank 

 Woods, of Jamaica ; Dewitt C. Middle- 

 ton, of Watertown; Delos H. Mackey, of 

 Delaware County. 



Mr. Wadsworth is to be the president of 

 the new Commission. This is the culmi- 

 nation of the fight in which it was con- 

 tended that the state forests have suffered 

 from political domination. 



In the New York State assembly a bill 

 has been introduced by Mr. Wheeler, and 

 referred to the committee on fisheries and 

 game, to amend the fisheries, game and 

 forest law, relative to additional protection 

 of the forest preserve. The bill proposes 

 the following amendments to the existing 

 laws : 



Superintendent of forest and other of- 

 ficials. The engineer of the commission 

 shall act as superintendent of forests and 

 shall perform the duties pertaining to that 

 office as hereinafter described. The com- 

 mission shall appoint an assistant super- 

 intendent of forests, a chief firewarden, 

 thirty-five forest rangers, a land clerk and 

 such clerical assistance as may be actually 



