166 BRITISH POSSESSIONS IN AMERICA. 



opinion, a competent forest officer should be appointed with- 

 out delay, to organise a small Forest Department and to 

 introduce the measures Avhich are necessary to perpetuate 

 the supply of mahogany and other valuable timbers. 



BRITISH GUIANA. 



The Colony has an area of 109,000 square miles, and a 

 population of 293,958, or three to the square mile. By far 

 the greater part of the country is covered with forest con- 

 taining mostly hardwoods. There is no Forest Department. 



During the years 1900 to 1904, the average annual exports 

 of timber were valued at £"22,574. On the other hand, the 

 average imports of lumber were valued at i'30,034. The 

 average export of rubber during the five years 1900 to 1904 

 amounted to 524,496 lbs. valued at iL-36,416. 



Considering the large stock of valuable hardwoods in the 

 extensive forests of the colony, it seems worth while to 

 consider the advisability of stimulating the export and 

 perhaps establishing a forestry branch of the administration. 

 This seems all the more desirable, as the average annual 

 exports of balata gum have of late years rapidly risen. 

 Without speedy protection, the export of rubber is likely to 

 decrease again as rapidly as it has increased. 



