214 TIMBERS AND THEIE USES 



different depots on the sands, and then spread 

 by convict labour. Tbe trees and otber vegeta- 

 tion bave made rapid growtb, and are forming 

 dense plantations. In tbis way tbe plantations 

 not only fulfil tbe important function of binding 

 tbe sands, but tbey bave transformed tbe appear- 

 ance of a bare and unsigbtly coast, and bid fair 

 to supply in tbe future, under proper care, 

 considerable suppbes of small timber and tanning 

 bark." 



Natal. In tbis colony there are approxi- 

 mately 2,000,000 acres of heavy forest, scrub 

 and Mimosa. Little appears to be done to 

 preserve the trees, and considerable quantities 

 of timber are imported, notably Pine and Spruce 

 from Europe and America, bard woods from 

 Australia, and Kauri Pine from New Zealand. 



India. About 8-5 per cent of the country is 

 reserved forest land, or approximately 75,294,000 

 acres. " There is no chapter in tbe history of 

 British rule in India more interesting than that 

 which tells of tbe efforts made to rescue tbe 

 forests of tbe country from destruction, of tbe 

 opposition met with, tbe obstacles overcome, and 

 tbe success achieved." 



Seeing that there are upward of 1,200 species 

 of trees in India, many of them important from 



