126 COLONIAL REPORTS MISCELLANEOUS. 



forest into the normal state, the annual yield is proportional to 



s 



M ' 



The greater N is, i.e., the longer the time (which is dependent 

 on the amount of deficiency in the younger -classes) required to 

 change the forest to the normal condition, the smaller will or 

 the yield become, or, in other words, the fewer the number of 

 trees that can be felled. The easiest and most convenient method 

 at present for ensuring a smaller number of trees being felled is 

 to fix the minimum felling girth at a considerably higher figure 

 than the average girth of the older age classes. It is a rough 

 and ready felling prescription easy to adopt and sufficiently 

 accurate to prevent the forests from being' over -exploited. In time, 

 when larger and better trained establishments can be employed 

 for carrying out the important duties of framing " working 

 plans " for the forests, a more exact prescription will be possible. 



Meanwhile the great thing to guard against is over-exploita- 

 tion of the growing stock, or in other words, an encroachment on 

 the wood-producing capital. For the above reasons I strongly 

 recommend the girths suggested by me in that Rule being 

 adopted. Any reduction will be attended by grave risks to the 

 wood-producing capital of the forests. 



It is as well to recall here the great danger that attends the 

 exploitation of a forest unless such operations are carefully regu- 

 lated. It is due to the fact that in removing the wood increment 

 in the form of trees, the wood-producing capital, which also 

 consists of trees, may be removed as well or greatly reduced. The 

 producer and the produce are identical in character, and the 

 accurate determination of how much of the former can be utilized 

 without exceeding the annual quantity of wood produced by the 

 whole forest is beset with great difficulties. The universal 

 tendency is to over-exploit the material produced by forests. 



Rule 43. This should be modified to the effect that the 

 grantors can, without obtaining permission from anybody, fell 

 or cut any trees for their own domestic uses, but not for sale or 

 barter, provided the trees are of the size specified in Rule 25. 

 (b) should stand as it is. 



Rule 44. Sub-rules (1) and (2) should stand. 



Sub-rule (3) should be modified to the effect that the owner 

 has to pay the following fees : 



(a) Upon each mahogany tree ... ... 30s. 



(b) Upon each cedar tree ... ... ... 185. 



(c) Upon any other tree ... ... ... 12s. 



The concluding paragraph of the principal Riile should 

 remain as it is. 



Rule 45 should stand, but fees payable by persons other than 

 the owner should be : 



(a) For each mahogany tree ... ... 20.s\ 



(6) For each cedar tree ... ... ... 12s. 



(c) For every other tree ... ... ... 8s. 



