140 BRITISH POSSESSIONS IN AFRICA. 



pamphlets, lectures and visits to the centres of operations. 

 Large numbers of young trees are sold to the public at low 

 rates. One-half of the cost of tree-planting done by munici- 

 palities and county councils (up to Jd'250 in one year) is 

 reimbursed by Government. Similar grants are sometimes 

 made to private tree-planters. 



There seems to be no doubt that the authorities at the Cape 

 are working on sound lines, especially as the improvement 

 of the natural forests runs parallel with the establishment of 

 plantations. The only disquieting point is that some of 

 the exotic species introduced on a large scale may some day 

 share the fate of the stone pine and be destroyed by disease ; 

 hence somewhat more attention might have been paid to 

 the indigenous species. 



Natal has an area of 35,371 square miles, and a population 

 of 925,118. 



The natural timber forests of Natal, excluding scrub jungle, 

 are said to cover the following areas : — 



Natal Proper ... 40,000 acres. 

 Zululand ... 50,000 „ 



Total ... 90,000 



or about one-tenth of an acre per head of population. 



A considerable portion of the Natal forests contain yellow- 

 wood. 



The natives of Natal, forming the greater part of the 

 population, were given extensive forest rights which have 

 produced a deplorable destruction of formerly rich forests. 



In 1886 Mr. Fourcade reported on the forests, but neither 

 by him, nor his successor, Herr Schoplin, could anything 

 substantial be done, owing to a vacillating policy on the 

 part of the Government. In 1901, Mr. J. S. Lister, Con- 

 servator of Cape Colony, reported once more, and on his 



