216 FORESTRY IN SOUTH AFRICA. 



when the country will be independent of imports, with the 

 exception of limited quantities of timber which cannot be grown 

 in South Africa. The extent of future planting should take into 

 consideration the probable increase of population. 



Next to India, South Africa was the first of the British Colonies 

 to devise and execute a rational forest pohcy. Finding the area 

 of indigenous forests altogether insufficient to supply the country 

 with timber and firewood, and being poor in workable coal seams, 

 the Government of Cape Colony started plantations in 1876 at 

 Worcester, consisting of Blue Gum {Eucalyptus Globulus). Many 

 others followed, consisting of a variety of exotic species, being 

 under the impression that the indigenous species were too slow 

 growing and, in some cases, too difficult to rear. The three main 

 classes of plantations are pine plantations for light woods, 

 Eucalyptus for timber, and Wattles for tanning bark. The 

 principal pine species are P. insignis, P. marilima and the 

 Canary Island pine. Of late years some Mexican conifers 

 have been tried to suit changes in the local conditions of the 

 several parts of the Union. 



Much as the general poHcy is to be approved, there is one point 

 for serious consideration, and that is the neglect of the indigenous 

 species, more particularly of the Yellowwoods. These woods 

 {Podocarpus spp.) yield excellent timber, superior to the introduced 

 pine species, but it is reported that they are difficult to rear, owing 

 to their requiring protection while young. In the indigenous 

 forests they reach a height up to 120 feet, and they are healthy. 

 On the other hand, the cluster and insignis pines are already Hable 

 to disease, and it has been suggested to replace them in certain 

 parts of the Union by the Himalayan Chir pine {P. longifolia), 

 and perhaps by Canary pine, or Mexican conifers. It would, 

 however, appear that the failure in rearing the Yellowwood might 

 be overcome by planting it in the existing bush or scrub, so that 

 the latter may provide the necessary shelter to the young plants 

 and to be cut away when the Yellowwood does not require any 

 further protection. This method has been extensively used with 

 success in Europe in converting coppice woods into high forests, 

 and there does not seem to be any reason why it should not be 

 successful in South Africa. Indigenous species are less likely to 

 fall victims to disease than exotic species. 



