inp; table shows the quantities of timber in 

 superficial feet imported in 1897 :^ 



Totals.— Victoria, 504,601 ; New South Wales. 

 601,025; Germany, 2,245; Sweden 934,370; 

 America, 15,677 ; New Zealand, 68,676 ; South 

 Australia, 2,505. Grand total, 2,129,099. 



There does not appear to be any reason 

 why this large demand for 2,000,000 super- 

 ficial feet of soft timber, chiefly Baltic 

 deals, should not be supplied in time from 

 trees of our own growing. Mr. Rodway 

 has suggested that some of our bush lands 

 might be profitably employed in the culti- 

 vation of the black wattle for its bark ; 

 and I submit for the further consideration 

 of those concerned, whether tracts of land 

 in the higher and moister parts of the 

 colony — in the Lake Country, for instance — 

 and the slopes of hills and mountains, 

 would not be suitable for the growth of 

 those trees from which the deals ai-e pro- 

 duced. If these trees could be successfully 

 cultivated in such localities, the land 



would be put to much better use than at 

 present, more labour would be employed, 

 the scenery would be more pleasing, and 

 the climatic conditions would be improved. 

 In the 23rd Annual Report of the Secretary 

 of the Massechusetts Board of Agriculture 

 (1875), Professor Sargent, Director of the 

 Botanic Garden and Arboretum of Har- 

 vard University, has given an estimate of 

 the profits of a plantation of European 

 larch, which, in 50 years, including interest 

 at 6 per cent, on interim profits (at 30 and 

 20 years), he reckons to be equal to about 

 13 per cent, per annum for the entire 50 

 years, after retaining the original capital 

 invested. Whether similar profits could 

 be made in this colony or not, is a 

 matter for consideration ; but there 

 can be no doubt whatever, that very 

 substantial benefit would result from 

 the establishment of such plantations. 



A discussion followed, in which Messrs. 

 R. M. Johnston, T. Stephens, A. Morton, 

 and L. Rodway took part. 



His Excellency the Administrator of 

 the Government moved a vote of thanks 

 to the gentlemen who had read papers, 

 and said the Government ought to be 

 approached, and urged to take some steps 

 to extend the close season for the Cape 

 Barren goose, or for a close season for a 

 number of years. He believed the geese 

 were destroyed more through ignorance 

 than wantonness, and that if people knew 

 how rare the goose was they would assist 

 to preserve it. 



