210 FORESTRY IN SOUTH AFRICA. 



in the Knysna and Transkeian forests, it is more abundant. In 

 the majority of the forests, the conditions for favourable regenera- 

 tion are not good, owing to faulty treatment in the past. Almost 

 all the species are said to be of slow growth, and a long time must 

 elapse before much mature timber from them will again become 

 available. The silvicultural requirements of the species are as 

 yet imperfectly understood, and, if the yield is to be improved, 

 much more time, attention and money must be devoted to the 

 subject than has been the case in the past. 



(c) Roads and Paths. — Many of the forests are already linked 

 up with public roads, but a great deal remains to be done in this 

 direction. Bridle and inspection paths are more numerous, and 

 there is hardly a forest which is not intersected with them. 



(d) Planting Waste Areas. — Owing to the very restricted 

 natural forest resources of the Union and the great need of aug- 

 menting the timber supplies, afforestatiorf of vacant waste lands 

 is the main channel along which the activities of the Department 

 are directed. Numerous exotic species are employed, those yielding 

 the ordinary softwoods of commerce and durable hardwoods, 

 such as some of the Eucalypts, the selection differing in various 

 parts of the country according to the factors of the localities. 



It has been estimated that it will be necessary to plant 300,000 

 acres with conifers if the country is to become independent of 

 imports. Up to March 31st, 1918, the following areas had been 

 planted : — 



Forest Department plantations . 51,104 acres. 

 Railway sleeper plantations . . 23,225 „ 

 Added since then .... 21,837 „ 



Total up to 1921 . . 96,166 „ 



Of the older plantations a considerable proportion were of an 

 experimental nature ; others will serve only to supply fuel, poles 

 and rough farm materials ; others have not been successful. 

 Allowing for these matters, some 20,000 acres of the older 

 plantation must be deducted as far as the supply of timber in the 

 future is concerned. 



(e) Slate Assistance given to Forestry. — The Forest Department 

 disposes of plants and seeds of forest trees at very low rates, 

 upwards of 5 million transplants having been sold in one year. 



