212 FORESTRY IN SOUTH AFRICA. 



in the past been done by officers of the Department of Agriculture. 

 The advantage of such work being done by forest officers has been 

 recognised, and it is hoped shortly to have departmental labora- 

 tories. Botanical research is undertaken by the professional 

 Assistant of the Chief Conservator. An expert is investigating 

 the properties and quahties of South African timbers and the 

 best methods of handhng and seasoning them. 



(i) Experimental WorJc. — During the existence of the Depart- 

 ment a great deal of valuable experimental field work has been 

 done, and the present silvicultural practice of the Union has been 

 largely moulded by it. This refers, more particularly, to the 

 nursery practice, the methods of planting and direct sowing, the 

 planting distance best suited to different species, the most suitable 

 mixtures of species, the most appropriate degrees of thinning, and 

 above all, the selection of suitable species for planting in the 

 different parts of the Union. In the past the experimental work 

 was largely the result of individual action. Now all this work has 

 been placed on a systematic basis, so as to secure the publication 

 of results, and to make them generally useful. 



(j) Income and Expenditure. — The average annual income and 

 expenditure for the 3 financial years 1916 — 1919 were as follows :— 



Deficit . . . 58,160 .. 18,551 



76,711 



87,147 



Cost of Plantations only 64,118 . . 23,029 

 The cost of the plantations is, in reaUty, a capital expenditure. 

 Allowing for this, it will be seen that there is really a surplus of 

 £10,436. The older plantations have commenced to give a return, 

 and, judging by the results so far obtained, there seems to be no 

 doubt that the plantations will be a financially successful under- 

 taking, apart from the fact that the country will have been made 

 independent of foreign supplies. 



5. Private Forestry Activity. 

 The importance of tree planting has been recognised as early 

 as the seventeenth century. It is on record that in 1679 one of 



