THE NEW FORESTRY. 01 



the agricultural sense, has hitherto been deemed necessary 

 by British foresters, the idea being probably derived from 

 agricultural practice ; but in natural forests, and also in Conti- 

 nental forests, rotation in that sense can hardly be said to 

 exist, the same species following each other on the same 

 ground. In Germany, hard-woods have followed hard-woods, 

 and firs firs, from time immemorial. In the great American 

 forests it is the same, and according to the recent Govern- 

 ment reports of the forests of Australia, by Mr. J. Ednie 

 Brown, the same species appear to have followed each other 

 from a pre-historic period. In the Jarrah forests of West 

 Australia, at the present time vigorous natural regeneration 

 at all stages is found going on, from the seed of the previous 

 generation of trees, wherever a clearing has been effected by 

 natural or artificial means. It may be occasionally wise to 

 change the crop, but it is not always necessary. 



SECTION III. — CHOICE OF SPECIES OF TIMBER-TREES 

 FOR THE LOCALITY. 



Under this head should be set down a list of any species 

 that are known to thrive and grow quickly in the district, 

 and such as are likely in the future to find a good market. 

 Careful enquiry over estates in the neigbourhood will soon 

 reveal what species succeed best ; but soil and aspect should 

 also be considered in drawing conclusions on the subject. 

 As to the probable comparative value of the different kinds 

 of timber that may be produced, the consumption within a 

 radius of about twenty-five miles will pretty well determine 

 that question, if the timber has to be sold in the rough, in the 

 wood, as distance from the consumer is a main factor in 

 determining the price in the wood. Having determined the 

 species most suitable and the right proportion of each, a list 

 should be made out for future use. Of course this arrange- 

 ment does not prohibit the planting, for experimental purposes, 

 of new or likely species, but extensive plantations of these 

 should not be made until their adaptability to the climate and 

 usefulness as timber-trees have been proved. The Continental 

 forest authorities are careful on this head. They may be 

 said to have scarcely as yet added to the species indigenous 

 to the country, and they select but few of these for the main 

 crop. This important aspect of the subject will, however, be 

 more fully dealt with in the chapter on "What to Plant." 



