INCREMENT AND UTILIZATION. 243 



average annual increment of the State forests may be placed at 

 30 cubic feet and the loss by fire, waste, &c. at 7 cubic feet, giving 

 a net increment of 23 cubic feet per acre and year. On that 

 assumption the following figures are given : — 



Area of forests less mallee 



scrub .... 9,375 square miles. 



Totallncrement . . 180,000,000 cubic feet. 



Loss .... 30,600,000 



Grand total of all produce .... 1,143,525 



8. Forest Industries. 



The use of indigenous timbers has steadily increased of late. 

 The following data show the extent of forest industries : — 



Produce consumed . . 51,950,000 cubic feet. 



Value of produce . . . £1,869,485 



Number of persons employed . 5,126. 



9. Exports and Imports of Timber. 

 Annual average of the years 1913 to 1918: — 



Imports 10,365,770 cubic feet. 



Exports 74,900 



Excess of Imports over Exports 10,290,870 



B 2 



