134 rOBEST CULTURE AND 



When hopeful illusion steps beyond the stern reali- 

 ties of the day,- it cannot suppress a desire that en- 

 lightened statesmanship will always wisely foresee the 

 absolute requirements of future generations. The 

 colonist who lives in enjoyment of his property near 

 the ranges and sees a flourishing family growing up 

 around him, asks ominously what will be the aspect 

 of these forests at the end of the century, if the pres- 

 ent work of demolition continues to go on ? He feels 

 that though the forests not solely bring us the rain, 

 through forests only a comparatively arid country can 

 have the full advantage of its showers, as bitter ex- 

 perience has taught generation after generation since 

 Julius Caesar's time. The colonist reflects \yith appre- 

 hension that while no year nor day, when passed into 

 eternity, can be regained, no provision whatever is 

 made for the coming population, in whose welfare, 

 perhaps as the head of a family, and perhaps even 

 bearing political responsibility, he is interested. He 

 would gladly co-operate in the labors of a local Forest 

 Board, just like members of Road Boards and Shire 

 Councils enter cheerfully on the special duties alloted 

 to their administration. His local experience would 

 dictate the rules under which in each district the tim- 

 ber and other products of the forest could be most 

 lucratively utilized without desolation for the future ; 

 and he would be best able to judge, and to seek advice 

 how the yield of the forest could be advantageously 

 maintained, and its riches methodically be increased. 

 All this will weigh more heavily on his mind when he 

 is cognizant that even in Middle Europe, in countries 

 90 well provided with coals, and of a much cooler 

 clime than ours, the extent of the forests is kept scru- 



