South Australian Naturalist 
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VOL. VI. ADELAIDE, FEBRUARY. 1925. No. 2. 
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j ARE WE MERELY^ CRANKS.^ 
Members of a nature-loving society such as ours are very 
V usually pictured as mere!}' cranks, harmless possibly, but cer- 
>. tainly useless. Picking flowers and impaling beetles are very 
I generally thought to form the s.um total of our activities. As a 
matter of sober fact the held stud)' of nature has been the basis 
of improvements and inventions of enormous economic impor- 
tance to the world. 
• ; . 
As regards our own State, to name but one suitable activity, 
there is a great field for public service in the advocacy of a pro- 
gressive policy of afforestation for South Australia. The study of 
forests shows that one of their mam functions is that of prevent- 
ing torrential floodings. Had the 6^ inches, which fell recently 
on the plains of the city, fallen on the hills irreparable damage 
would have been caused by the washing away of fruitful soils 
from places denuded by man of their natural covering of vegeta- 
tion, One rcmey- lies in the preservation of our forested areas 
in the hills and in addition to the meagre reserves now set apart 
tor the conservation of the natural protection of the soils. 
The careful perusal of that most informative volume “A 
Discussion of Australian Forestry,” by the late D. E. Hutchins 
just presented to our library by the Western Australian Forestry 
Department, would enable every member to acquire some know- 
ieUgg of the immense importance of this question, particularlv as 
it affects South Australia. 
Ihe Section is at present trying to preserve the geologically- 
» will ““ Tl'' Sect.o„ ?h„„ld preL 
With the work of securing additional reserves. 
