252 



FORESTRY IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA. 



tory. A new start has now been made with Cluster pine {Pinus 

 maritima). It is stated that direct sowing has been practised 

 and that it answers well. An area of 25,000 acres has been taken 

 up, 19 miles from Perth, which it is proposed to plant at the rate 

 of a square mile a year. A State nursery has been in existence 

 for 19 years, from which about 100,000 plants were distributed 

 annually until 1917 free of charge to settlers and pubUc bodies. 

 Now cost price is charged for the plants. The advice of forest 

 officers is always at the disposal of planters. Seeds of wattles have 

 also been distributed. 



Education. — Western Australia is taking part in the establish- 

 ment of the Commonwealth School of Forestry in New South 

 Wales, where the superior officers will be trained in future. The 

 subordinate staff has so far been trained on the apprentice system 

 under the control of the superior staff. 



Research. — A beginning has been made in investigating the pulp- 

 ing qualities of karri and jarrah timber, also as regards essential 

 oils, the kiln drying of timber, and some botanical matters. 



Revenue and Expenditure. — The average annual receipts and 

 expenditure during the years 1909 — 1914, amounted to : — 



£ 

 Annual Kevenue . . . 42,973 



■ Annual Expenses . . . 10,284 



Annual Surplus . . £32,689 



The corresponding figures for the year 1918 — 1919 were practically 

 the same. 



6. Increment and Utilization. 



There are no data from which anything hke an approximate 

 estimate of the increment could be made. In a rough way it has 

 been placed at 13,315,000 cubic feet in the round. 



The utilization of merchantable timber is given as follows : — 



Cubic Feet. Value £. 



