76 FOREST OULTUEE A.NB 



formerly existed in their own native forests. Like- 

 wise so in Nortli America an enormous lot of trees' is 

 destroyed by girdling and subsequent burning, for 

 clearing agricultural lands or pastoral runs. Thus, in 

 the earlier part of the next century, every natural for- 

 est east of the Mississippi will have disappeared, if, 

 with an increasing population, the same rate of con- 

 sumption is going on. For the States west of the great 

 river, in which forest-land is much less extensive, the 

 prospects are still more alarming. Hence, Australia 

 cannot indifferently look forward for soft-wood from 

 these places. 



To give some idea how long a time will elapse before 

 actual timber, not merely firewood, is obtained from 

 planted trees, I subjoin a brief list of the mor.e com- 

 mon Middle European forest trees, together with notes 

 of their age when eligible for various tilnber purposes : 



Beech .' 60-110 years. 



Hornbeam 70-100 " 



Oak 70-120 " 



Alder 30-80 " 



Birch 40-70 " 



Silver Fir 60-150 " 



Korway Spruce 60-150 " 



Scotch Fir 30-60 " 



Larch 30-80 "* 



That, however, in our Winterless zone, such of 

 these trees as will endure a warmer clime would 

 advance with more quickness to maturity must be 



f It should be remembered that most of our forest ranges are naturaUy 

 devoid of Pine-wood, only one species of Oallitris occurring in a few limited 

 mountain districts, while our second Oallitris is a desert species. 'Without 

 coniferous trees of our own we shall finally experience difficulty of obtain, 

 ing the required supply of deals, pitch, turpentine, and pine-resin, ' Doubt- 

 less, for many wood-structures now iron is substituted, but even a ship or 

 a house cannot be built entirely of iron, and the very production of the iron 

 is dependent on fuel. In the absence of coal, the use of iron, Involving 

 here an expenditure for heavy freight> must necessarily be limited. 



