68 AN AUSTRALIAN STUDY OF AMERICAN FORESTRY. 
One single and limited exception to this rule is provided in the Act of 
4th March, 1915, which authorises the occupation of “ National Forest lands 
for any period not exceeding thiry years, where the lands are to be used for 
summer homes, hotels, stores, etc., but.no person may be allowed to use more 
than five acres.” 
This exception was made to allow of the erection of permanent rather 
than temporary residences in the Forests, and to safeguard those who had 
spent considerable sums in improvements under their permits. 
The use of National Forests as places of residence and recreation is 
encouraged, on the ground that the resident becomes a volunteer fire-fighter. 
It must be remembered that National Forests are regions rather than 
areas, and the policy could not be applied with equal force to the circum- 
scribed forest reservations of Australia, but it is quite conceivable that certain 
of these apiaries, corrals, stock tanks, sawmills, water supply schemes, 
logging roads, might prove desirable in special cases. “Special Uses” policies 
for Australian States require to be devised carefully and applied most 
conservatively. —_— 
Cuapter VII. 
REFORESTATION AND AFFORESTATION. 
MODERN NURSERY AND PLANTIN G METHODS. 
Of recent years, artificial regeneration of forests by direct planting, has 
replaced frequently in Europe, the method of natural regeneration previously 
followed. 
The practice has been made possible by increasing timber values, and is 
a natural consequence under intensive management of the endeavour to obtain 
quicker and more regular results. ; 
Natural regeneration is safe and cheap. It protects the soil conditions, 
and the soil life. It shelters the seedlings against weather effects, and the 
insects which frequent clearings. It restricts the spread of weeds and brush. 
It is often the only system possible under extensive pioneering conditions, and 
consequent low timber values. 
It is, however, slow, uncertain, and complex. It necessitates careful and 
systematic preparation for many years before. It calls for a combination 
of favourable soil, seeding, and climatic conditions at the precise moment 
when the old stand commences to open. Jt involves the leaving of a large 
number of seed trees, which are thereby rendered liable to windthrow. It 
requires an uneconomical prolongation of exploitation; and in the final stages 
subjects the regrowth to damage. 
Still many of the Australian forests are prolific regenerators. In the early 
days of settlement, from the Blackbutt forests of the coast, to the Cypress 
‘Pine “Scrubs” of the West, one is told of open park-like stretches through 
which one could see “for miles.” To-day those same forests are dense two or 
three storied thicket, and pole stands “too thick for a dog to bark through,” 
and the original mature scattered overwood, now being exploited, is the open 
forest of the early days. 
Why then plant? 
Certainly, planting may be a less complex, a much simpler problem than 
inducing regeneration where nature is stubborn, and assuredly it makes for 
regular, even aged woods, clear cutting, and more economical logging. But 
it is laborious and costly, whilst involving as much risk. And to keep pace 
with exploitation, the operations would have to be on a scale too stupendous 
to contemplate in these days of shortened loans. 
