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Forests. 
lyuery 5. Can you point out any locality hi your district as specially adapted for forest 
reservation, or for forest nurseries, or for the raising of neio forests? 
The consideration of another subject has now to bo entered on, one also of no trifling importance, 
for firewood even is becoming scarce in many districts of the colony ; and without fuel little work is to 
be got through in these mechanical times, leaving out of the question the requirements for domestic 
use. As the natural forests disappear, it becomes a serious question how these are to be replaced. There 
has been little heed for the future ; and even where there is a spontaneous growth of young trees, several 
years must elapse before this can be of much utility. From most of the goldfields urgent intreaties have 
been received for the strict reservation of all forest lands within an available distance, as well as for the 
preservation of young timber. With a view to climatic influences, and the continuance of our present 
rain-fall, several gentlemen interested in stock and agriculture, would have all timbered ranges reserved 
from sale or occupation. To afford shelter soon, and timber at some future day, it is recommended that all 
the three-chain roads be planted for two-thirds of their width, and that trees be planted at each side 
of the narrower roads. In many districts, spots of more or less extent are pointed out as suitable for future 
forests ; and one proposal is, that all worked-out auriferous laud should be I'eserved for this purpose, as 
being altogether unfit for agriculture. But although bad land, in the ordinary acceptation of the term, 
much of that which has been deeply stirred in tlie search for gold grows vines and fruit trees to perfection, 
and is therefore suited for settlement. Great stress is laid on t\xQ jiermanent reservation of the forest 
reserves, as it is alleged that very much forest land has been lately taken up by selectors solely for the 
timber. Where the laud is of better quality, the selectors are destroying an immense number of trees by 
ringing them ; and one instance is given of, a selector who barked 200 fine stringy-bark trees to cover in 
a shed, worth, when finished, about fifty shillings. In some of the stringy-bark foresls, vast numbers 
of trees have been killed by’ ringing, in the vain hope that the grass would grow for the selectors’ cattle. 
The establishment of forest nurseries is recommended for almost eveiy thickly populated district; but there 
is a difference of opinion as to whether the new forests planted therefrom should consist principally of 
native or exotic trees. Whei-e trees have to be planted, this may remain an open question, and trees of every 
sort set out to prove which is best. But it is plain that, where any great extent of land has to be covered with 
timber, the spontaneous growth of native trees will have to bo indncipally depended on. In all old forests, 
excepting where the land is rich, seedlings rise in great number.s, and the best, if allowed room, soon grow 
into vigorous trees. The before-mentioned residents at Bontherambo state that a portion of their property 
near Waugaratta, which was cultivated twenty years since, is again almost as heavily timbered as the waste 
land — but, of eourso, with young trees only. Even in many’ parts of the colony now open, and far from any 
forest, seedling trees of different sorts grow up if the land be ploughed and allowed to lie otherwise untilled 
for a year or two. These facts point plainly to the source whence our forests must be renewed, as the young 
trees raised in nurseries, and planted out, whether native or exotic, can go but a little way towards meeting 
the future forest requirements of the colony. 
Forest Boards. 
Query 6. Are you of opinion that local forest boards should be constituted, subject to some 
general regulations issued by Government ; or can you suggest any other efficient organi- 
zation by which the forests of this colony could be better watched, enlarged, or restored, 
and rendered productive to the utmost ? 
This question resolves itself into two parts, the one relating to forest boards, and the other to the 
preservation and rendering productive of the present forests. From all parts of the colony, where trees 
are worth looking after or caring for, the ojsinion is in favor of local boards of management, with various 
modifications. One recommendation is, that in addition to the members of local public bodies, so many of 
whom are likely to be changed each year, a few non-official residents should be appointed, to allow of the 
business being conducted with more, regularity and steadiness. Another is, that there should be an 
Inspector-General of Forests, with a staff of conipetent men under him to advise or act with the local 
boards. A third is, that there should be a Department of Agriculture, Woods, and Forests, presided 
over by a Minister of Agriculture, and that all the rangers should be properly trained foresters. Different 
constitutions have been proposed for the central body, but the opinion seems to be very general that there 
should be something of the sort to provide for the proper training of foresters or forest rangers. On the 
other hand, it has been stated that the experience of the management of Crown lands by local bodies has 
been, on the whole, very unsatisfactory. About three millions of acres of lauds reserved for commons, parks, 
and gardens in country districts have been under such local management, and the result of such management 
has been that the funds available for local imju'ovements from agistment of commons have been exceedingly 
small, and that, with a few remarkable exceptions, the trustees and committees of management of parks and 
gardens in couutiy districts have either neglccteil arboriculture in such reserves or been very unsuccessful 
in their planting operations, notwithstanding the aid derived from donations of money’ by the Board of Land 
and Works, donations of plants from the Director of the Botanic Gardens, and funds obtained in many 
instances from the letting of j)ortions of such reserves by the local boards in charge thereof. It has therefore 
been suggested that the Board of Land and Works, being by law the custodian in its corporate capacity of 
all reserves, and being empowered to frame for the care, protection, and management of such reserves 
regulations, the violation of which would subject offenders to severe penalties, all State forests should bo 
under the general control of such board, and that local boards should merely be boards of managers to carry 
out the regulations from time to time made by the Board of Land and Works for the care, protection, and 
management of the various State forests ; also that all the larger State forests should be under the immediate 
supervision of such board and of its responsible otlicers. 
THE CARE AND MANAGEMENT OF FORESTS. 
The matter of fact view of the second part of the question is, that forests will pay well for being 
taken care of. But the amount of care recommended depends on the exigencies of each district. Where 
timber is becoming very scarce, it is proposed that the timber be treated strictly as the property of the 
