TREE CULTURE IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA. 



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CHAPTER I. 



Importance of Conserving Forests and Forming Plantations 

 in South Australia. 



In nearly all the countries of Europe and in India, forest management 

 is now generally well understood, each ha\dng a systematic forest 

 economy of its own, modified to suit the existing peculiarities of the 

 region it occupies, and each carrying out with rigor the arrangements 

 laid down for the development of this branch of its natural resources, 

 all keeping in view to carefuUy preserve the older portions of their 

 forest crops, and to plant and rear young ones to come ia for use as 

 their supplies of the old crops become exhausted. 



In South Australia we have a large and valuable agricultural country, 

 but with the undoubted drawback of having only a limited ligneous 

 flora. Our forests occupy but a very small percentage of our area, and 

 even much of what is termed " timbered country" is under trees of an 

 inferior class. While, however, our country does not compare with 

 many other portions of the globe in the possession of valuable forest 

 products, it is more than satisfactory to note that it is vastly superior to 

 many others as a field for the development of systematic forestry — 

 whether as to soil, climate, or extent of field to operate on. 



As in all newly-settled coimtries, so it has been here, and is yet to 

 some extent in places, the natural forests have been wantonly destroyed. 

 Happily, however, for the future prosperity of the colony, a wise 

 Government has taken steps, by the proclamation of certain districts as 

 forest reserves, and by the establishment of a Forest Board, whereby a 

 thorough system of conserving and planting is being undertaken upon 

 them, to prevent the complete demolition of the natiu-al forests, and 

 at the same time introduce other species of trees which will produce 

 valuable timber to future generations. 



While, however, the Government is doing aU it possibly can in the 

 matter, this is not sufficient for the ultimate good and prosperity of the 



