The Conquest of the Desert 



(7) Cupressus arizonica. Excellent for tim- 

 ber. Seems to be quite frost-resistant. 



It should be said that the five above-men- 

 tioned trees may also be utilised for shelter belts 

 and windbreaks. If any of our readers desire 

 further information on these and kindred 

 matters we would refer them to Mr J. Storr 

 Lister, I.S.O., Chief Conservator of Forests, 

 Pretoria. We are of opinion that our farmers 

 do not take the fullest advantage of this 

 valuable branch of the Government service. 

 It is worth remembering, however, that this 

 Department controls some 1,200,000 acres of 

 natural forest and has set out some 50,000 acres 

 of plantations, and possesses a staff of 250 

 foresters with over 5000 labourers. Plantations 

 and nurseries have been established at forty- 

 six centres. In any scheme of land settlement 

 which may ultimately be adopted in South 

 Africa, it is to be hoped that the planting of trees 

 will be made a special feature on every Govern- 

 ment homestead ; and, further, that the little 

 people in every town and every country school 

 shall be encouraged to set out their tiny 

 garden forests and to watch them growing 

 day by day. And although the great work of 

 afforestation — nation-building in the noblest 



78 



