35 



cutting them in pieces about a foot long, and draining them into a receptacle. 

 Ipomaeas (Morning Glory), and many other twiners develop the strangling habit. I 

 have referred to the matter and given illustrations under the title " Aboriginal Method 

 of obtaining Water," at p. 14, Part LI", of my " Forest Flora of New South Wales." 



V. Animals (Native and other). 



See my " Forest Flora of New South Wales," Part LXX, p. 444, where the 

 subject is, although inadequately, dealt with at some length. 



VI. Miscellaneous. 



Hand of Man. 



The deliberate destruction has arisen from two causes — (1) the destruction of 

 trees to convert them into timber ; and (2) the destruction of trees and shrubs in the 

 formation or improvement of pastoral and arable land. 



In (1) the requirements of engineering and mining works, building, fencing, 

 furniture, &c, have to be provided for. Under (2), the burning off has been incessant, 

 but a fair percentage of dead timber has been converted into household fuel in the 

 vicinity- of towns. In Western Australia the cutting of green timber for fuel purposes 

 in the vicinity of the goldfields is, because of the local scarcity of coal, carried out to 

 an extent unknown in eastern Australia. Since the removal of all large timber in the 

 vicinity of the gold-fields areas is complete, data should be obtainable in regard to the 

 rate of growth of many species in definite areas, natural re-afforestation being usually 

 allowed to proceed. Chiefly in South Australia there are large forest plantations, this 

 being largely a treeless State. Victoria and New South Wales are doing some planting. 



The compensating extent of natural re-afforestation is considerable, although 

 sometimes lost sight of. Some species, e.g., Eucalyptus pilularis Sm., re-afforest rapidly 

 in forest land, and it is believed that the seeds of forest trees, which pass through sheep 

 and cattle, and which are trampled into the soil, are responsible for the conversion of 

 large areas of grass land into forest in the eastern States. (See Part XLVIII, p. 248.) 



The removal of the trees of a forest destroys the plant equilibrium, and interesting 

 changes, which, however, cannot be discussed at this point, take place, particularly in 

 the brush. 



F 



