GROWING GOLD. 



115 



surely they should be compelled to produce 

 something to testify their acquaintance with 

 the details of the duties required of them. 

 If inspectors and surveyors are necessary, it 

 is equally essential that they should be well 

 acquainted with the details of the business 

 they have to superintend. Practical know- 

 ledge is considered necessary in every other 

 department of the government, and why 

 not in this ? since the failure of the growing 

 crop of timber proves it to be so much 

 wanted. Billington, who appears to have 

 been an inspector, or something of the kind, 

 in Dean Forest, says, they planted and re- 

 planted trees, persevering even to the fifth 

 time, but all would not avail." Having seen 

 failures from the mismanagement of private 

 property where the land had been planted 

 three times, it is but fair to assume it to be 

 the case in Dean Forest. It is not to be 

 wondered at, as Billington was a gardener : 

 he might have been an adept at ''forcing 

 tender exotics," and yet entirely unacquainted 

 with the nature of our native trees, as it 



