372 Ajrica. 
In Africa, during the last few years small forest de- 
partments have been established by the governments 
of the Soudan, East Africa, Nigeria, Transvaal, Orange 
River and Natal, mostly for the purpose of planting on 
the treeless plains. 
The government of Mauritius had made attempts 
at conservancy for many years, but without notable 
success. 
The most successful attempt in Africa so far is 
reported from Cape Colony, which as early as 1819 
had a Superintendent of Lands and Woods, and in 
1876 a Department of Forests and Plantations, neither 
of which have left much of record. 
In 1881 a new forest department under a French 
forest officer was started, which has grown until now 
its consists of one Conservator (D. E. Hutchins), 22 
Assistant Conservators, 84 European foresters, and a 
few native guards. In 1888 the needed legislation was 
had for regulating the working of the nearly half 
million acres of forest area, which, in 1902, was de- 
clared inalienable government property. Since the 
wood imports amount to over two million and a quar- 
ter dollars annually, the need of conservative use is 
appreciated especially as climatic conditions are un- 
favorable to reproduction. Some 24,000 acres have 
been planted during 22 years, at a cost of $1,500,000, 
the first plantations beginning to yield a substantial 
revenue, and it is believed that another 40,000 acres 
of such plantations would supply all. the timber 
needed in the Colony. Treeplanting by private land 
owners and municipalities is encouraged by furnishing 
advice gratis and plant material at low cost, and to 
