242 FORESTRY IN VICTORIA. 



(6) Areas near gold fields have been planted, 5 square miles 

 with hardwoods and 11 square miles with softwoods. The hard- 

 woods are Eucalypts, and the softwoods are ]\Iontery pine 

 (P. insignis), Corsican and Pinaster pines, Douglas fir, western 

 yellow pine, Canary pine and Japanese red pine (P. densiflora). 



(c) Eegeneration of Natural Forests. The Victorian Eucalypts 

 produce large quantities of seed, which, it is stated, may remain 

 dormant for 6 to 10 years before germination is induced by the 

 removal of the forest cover in timber cutting operations, or by 

 the action of fight fire passing over the area. As the Euca- 

 lypts are fight-demanding, they regenerate freely where the 

 merchantable timber has been cut, provided fire is kept out 

 after regeneration and damage by rabbits prevented. 



(d) From 3 to 4 million young plants, chiefly conifers, are 

 raised annually ; some of these go to the State plantations, while 

 others are given free of charge, or at a low rate, to settlers, 

 together with the necessary advice. 



The Forest Authority. — The three Forest Commissioners are 

 appointed for 5 years. There are at present 5 Chief Foresters, 

 21 Foresters and 14 Assistant Foresters, with a stafi of foremen, 

 labourers, &c. There is also a Chief Superintendent of planta- 

 tions and nurseries. The Commission has control of aU State 

 forests and of forest produce on other Crown lands. Their duty 

 is to carry out the provisions of the Forest Acts as indicated above. 



Education, Research and Experimental Work. — A forest school 

 was estabfished in 1910 at Creswick, on the Dividing Range. 

 Pupils enter at the age of 14 to 17 years and go through a 3 years' 

 course of instruction. There are classes in the morning and 

 practical work in the afternoon in the adjoining nurseries and 

 plantations ; there are also 14,000 acres of State forests close by. 

 Victoria is taking part in the movement for establishing a 

 high-class School of Forestry for the use of the Commonwealth 

 generally. 



No research or experimental work has, so far, been carried on 

 beyond investigations on various timbers and the planting of 

 exotic trees. 



7. Increment and Utilization. 



The increment differs very much, and data for an accurate 

 estimate are not available. It is stated that approximately the 



