The South Australian Naturalist. 
53 
The remarkably successful growth of Piiius insignis on sandy 
tinds ill the South-East, as demonstrated b>- areas planted and ad- 
ministered by the Forest Department, Indicatc^ beyond _ doubt 
the fitness for pine plantation of at least ccitain aieas in that 
part of the State. I'he odds arc that very large areas of low 
Lde land suitable for pine forests exist thereabouts. Other 
features favourable to planting in the South-East arc the low cost 
of the land, the small amount of clearing to be done, and the 
<reneral flatness of the situation. All factors therefore appear to 
be favourable for planting for supply forests, though, on account 
of remoteness from Adelaide, it is questionable how much of such 
timber could be profitably transported to the main centre of 
population of the State. The railway freight charge between 
Mount Gambicr and Adelaide is much the same as the sea freight 
ruling for lumber between Canada and Adelaide. It seems pro- 
East, over and above local consunaption, will tend to flow towards 
bable, therefore, that the products of the forests in tlie South 
the fertile south-western district of Victoria. 
The other outstanding area for aflorcstation is the higher 
rainfall region of the iVIount Lofty Ranges, hung at the very door 
of the metropolis. From every part of this area railway or motor 
lorry delivery to the centre of consumption can be made at small 
cost. In the case of pine the saving in cost of delivery^ to factory 
in Adelaide from Kuitpo Forest, as against plantation In the neigh- 
bourhood of Mount Gambler, ranges from 2Ss. to 40s. per ton, 
depending upon special features of location. As the production of 
sawn, marketable timber from a single acre of mature plantation 
will not amount to less than 35,000 super feet, or 50 tons, in the 
bone dry state, a saving of from £62 to £100 per acre is indicated 
on this score, if the produce is to be marketed in the metropolis. 
It cannot be too seriously urged that proximity to a large centre 
of population is supremely advantageous in marketing low value 
by-products, such as thinnings and firewood. 
In the hills a great variety in soil and drainage is available, 
p that a wide range of timber species may^ be cultivated, includ- 
ing some yielding higher grade timbers of double the market 
value of PInus insignis. In this connection may^ be mentioned 
Finns ponderosa and PInus laricio, whose suitability, judging by 
results achieved at the Kuitpo Forest, has been proved bevond all 
doubt. 
These ranges provide a water catchment sup^plydng the 
greater portion of the population of the State. As time progresses 
more and more reservoirs will be needed In the hills. It is a 
fundamental requirement that the catchment area of water-supply' 
reservoirs for human consumption shall be so far as possible sit- 
