68 FOEEST CULTURE AND 



rests on me in this direction, I would wish to meet it 

 in such a way that those who will live after us shall 

 never be able to tax me with blindness to any impor- 

 tant interest of our colony, so far as such were intrust- 

 ed to my charge. But, then, the views of a profes- 

 sional officer should be received with that considera- 

 tion, and be seconded with that support, to which 

 they have fair claim. 



I pass the subject of the incalculable value of the 

 native woods, such as we stUl possess in our own for- 

 ests, whether viewed in their relation to arts or as 

 miercantile export commodities. It is a matter far 

 too large to dwell on, even cursorily, on this occasion. 

 "Were I to enumerate all the uses already practically 

 known of our native trees, I would have ■ to compile 

 a goodly volume, even were I silent on the still far 

 ampler subject of the introduction of the thousands 

 of different foreign trees which I should like to see 

 here for the use of future artisans and those who are 

 to benefit by their services. A work bearing on the 

 nature of the forest - trees of India, by Dr. Balfour; 

 was kindly placed in my hands by Col. Sankey, whose 

 stay among us we at present (22d June, 1871) enjoy 

 for advice, on our water- works. Major Beddome, of 

 Madras, issues a kindred illustrated work. 



I may, however, be allowed to point to the enor- 

 mous consumption of indigenous wood in some locali- 

 ties, as this expenditure is utterly out of all proportion 

 • to the existing supply or its present natural renova- 

 tion. This question presents itself all the more grave- 

 ly, as no rich coal - seams are as yet discovered, by 

 which the fuel-supply could be augmented from short 

 4istances^ at a T»oderate price, "^e haye also to bg 



