

22 PRACTICAL FOREST MANAGEMENT. 



management, and provided the estate is maintained in good condi- 

 tion and fellings confined to the calculated annual yield, the extent 

 of the surplus over a series of years is, after all, the amount of the 

 annual profit obtained by Government from the estate. Sums 

 provided by way of capital for the development of the estate or the 

 cheapening of exploitation ipso facto have their influence on the 

 revenue and so on the surplus. If development does not take place 

 in due season the surplus will hardly be kept up ; if sufficient is not 

 spent on maintenance or if more than, the calculated annual yield 

 is cut, financial disaster will finally overtake the management. 

 Government will have consumed the capital of the forest along 

 with the interest and will be left with a derelict property incapable 

 of paying even its own charges for administration, let alone any 

 surplus revenue to the finances of the province. 



The lessons of the past have already been set out and are clear 

 for all to read. 



It has taken the Forest department over 50 years to build up 

 the estate as it now exists. 



Prom now onwards, with the increase in stocking and improve- 

 ment in quality, the closer utilisation of the produce and the 

 cheapening of exploitation, matters which are all receiving atten- 

 tion, the surplus should under wise management continue to 

 increase. The foundations have been well and truly laid ; the 

 building of the superstructure yet remains to be completed. 



The members of the Forest Service can complete this super- 

 structure, but they cannot control the future policies of Councils or 

 Governments of whom they are the servants. If the leaders of 

 the people will only read the history of the past, if instead of 

 following popular clamour they will listen to the voice of wisdom, 

 orderly progress and prosperity will continue. If not, then the 

 condition of affairs so clearly stated by the Government of India 

 in their despatch to the Secretary of State in 1862 will soon 

 recur, without the possibility of a reconstruction, and the country 

 will be left denuded of supplies of timber and firewood for all time. 



