MAIN TYPES OF FOKEST GROWTH. 249 



say, localities with a minimum rainfall of 35 inches, situated in the 

 south. The tree reaches a height of 200 feet (one 278 feet high 

 having been measured). The karri forests are not pure ; they 

 are intersected by belts of jarrah and by belts of mixed karri and 

 marri {E. calophylla), pure marri, or marri and blackbutt {E. 

 patens). The soil in the karri localities is deeper and richer than 

 that in the jarrah forests ; in consequence it is being occupied 

 for agriculture. As a lower story, Casuarina decussita and 

 Banksia grandis are found here and there. Karri gives a denser 

 cover than jarrah ; there is a dense undergrowth of small trees, 

 chiefly Legwninosce, and a good layer of humus. Fires occur, but 

 not quite as frequently as in jarrah forests. Still, they do a great 

 deal of damage. No supervision is exercised over the cutting of 

 karri, except that no trees under 108 inches girth are allowed to 

 be cut. The state of the forest, after the saw-miller has done 

 with it, is, if possible, almost worse than in the case of the jarrah 

 forests. 



Wandoo Forest is confined to a very small area on the north- 

 eastern end of the prime jarrah belt, but larger areas of it are 

 found in the savannah forest. They can do with a few inches 

 less rain than the jarrah forests. The soil of the tract is laterite, 

 but there is also some clay soil. Wandoo forests afiord little 

 cover. 



Tuart Forest is found on the limestone fringe near the coast. 

 The soil consists of sand over limestone. The tree reaches a 

 height of 120 feet, and it forms pure stands with an under story 

 of peppermint {Agonis Jlexuosa) and Banksia grandis. The 

 cuttings have been very wasteful, and owing to grazing and fires 

 there has been no regeneration during the last 50 years. 



In addition to the trees mentioned above, a great many others 

 appear. There are numerous other species of Eucalypts, a 

 sandalwood {Santalum cygnorum), a pear [Xylomelum occidentale), 

 acacias and others. Large quantities of firewood are consumed, 

 especially in the goldfields, also pit-props and other mining 

 timber. 



3. Area of the Forests. 



The following data show the distribution of the area of the 

 State : — 



