Peppekcorne. — On tfie Influence of Forests on Climate and BainfalL 29 



both eases the regulations for their management and conservation are of 

 the most comprehensive description. 



In Switzerland, the question has become of such national importance 

 that it has been proposed to modify the constitution so as to enable the 

 Federal Government to undertake duties which have hitherto been per- 

 formed by the several cantons. 



In Austria, the management of forests has recently been transferred 

 from the Minister of Finance to a distinct department, presided over by the 

 Minister of Agriculture. 



In India, the forest question is now being regarded as one of the first 

 importance, and is being dealt with, not by the several Presidencies, but by 

 the Greneral Government on behalf of the country at large. 



In Canada, there has been a certain amount of legislation on this sub- 

 ject ; but in Sw^eden and Norway the most rigorous measures have been 

 devised to protect the forests, and there are regulations to prevent trees 

 under a certain age and size from being cut even by private owners. 



Now, if in countries like France, Germany, Sweden, and Norway, whose 

 forest lands are extensive, it has been found necessary to initiate and 

 carry out a most careful system of forest conservation, how much more 

 so must it be necessary in the di-y and sultry climate of Australia ! 



In the colonies of Victoria and New South Wales, the evils produced by 

 the gradual diminution of their forests, as well as by their destruction in 

 dry seasons by bush fires, have now become apparent, and have combined 

 to render the climate, which is naturally dry, year by year more dry, while 

 but httle has been as yet attempted for their preservation. 



The consequences must inevitably be of the most serious nature, unless 

 immediate steps are taken to conserve large tracts of the existing forests, as 

 well as to initiate a well-devised system of tree-planting on the bare hills 

 which have been denuded of their forests. Should this not be done, the 

 inevitable result will be severe droughts of long duration, occurring more 

 frequently than at ]3resent, to the great detriment of the pastoral and 

 agricultural interests of these colonies. 



In South Australia, the subject has, however, received much attention 

 of late, and proposals have been made by Mr. Goyder, the Surveyor- General 

 of that colony, to initiate a systematic course of tree-planting on a large 

 scale. Mr. Goyder proposes to reserve 200,000 acres of land, and to spend 

 on it, in tree-planting and management, £14,000 during the first year, and 

 £10,500 during each of the following eleven years ; thus making a total 

 expenditure of £180,000, when the whole of the 200,000 acres would be 

 planted and fenced in. During the first five years there would not be any 

 revenue, but during the sixth, seventh, eighth, and ninth years, the revenue 



