TYPES OF FOREST 49 



some parts, as in West Africa, the bulk of the forests belongs to 

 native corporations. 



The proportion of State forests dedicated to timber production 

 varies much ; on an average it may be placed at 29 per cent. 



4. Types of Forest. 



The factors on which forest vegetation depends are temperature, 

 moisture, light, and the physical and chemical condition of the 

 soil. The first two of these agencies are greatly influenced by the 

 configuration of the country, and especially by elevation and 

 aspect. They differ so much in the several parts of the Empire 

 that it is impossible to give here a summary of them. 



The forests may be arranged into three great classes : — 

 (1) Hardwood forests, (2) Conifer forests, and (3) Mixed forests. 

 The first, really consisting of broad-leaved species, prevail in the 

 tropical and semi-tropical parts, and they contain the most 

 valuable species, such as Teak, Mahogany, Sandalwood, Ebony, 

 Cedrela spp., Dipterocarps, especially Shorea, Eucalypts, and a 

 very large number of other species. In temperate climates are 

 found Oaks, Chestnuts, Maples, Beech, Birch, Elm, Alder and 

 many others. 



The greater part of the conifer forests is found in the temperate 

 parts, but also in the sub-tropical and tropical parts. The more 

 important species are Spruces, Pines, Larches, Firs (Silver and 

 Douglas), Deodar, Podocarpus spp., Callitris spp., Juniperus spp., 

 the New Zealand Agathis australis, the Queensland Araucarias 

 and others. 



The number of species of trees found in the Empire amounts 

 to thousands ; indeed, it may be said that, with few exceptions, 

 it contains all species. While there is no danger at present of 

 the Empire running short of hardwoods, the case is different as 

 regards coniferous timber. No doubt, conifers occupy more than 

 one half of the Empire's forests, but the consumption of such 

 timber amounts to something like 90 per cent, of the total require- 

 ments. The distribution of the conifer forests is very uneven, the 

 greater part being situated in Canada, Newfoundland, India, East 

 Africa, New Zealand, and a few parts of Australia. The result is 

 that many parts of the Empire, while exporting hardwoods, are 

 obliged to import coniferous timber. Naturally, the effort at 



