SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY. 
During the growth and progress of forestry in the Commonwealth there will be 
a continual demand for research work. The working plans officers will be faced 
with many sylvicultural problems which require patient study by specialists to 
solve. There will be numerous fungoid and insect diseases requiring investiga- 
tion. Research into the question of forests and water supply; also into forest 
meteorology in general will be necessary. All these researches should be carried 
out at an institution, preferably at the School of Forestry, where, if possible, the 
staff of professors should be chosen with a view to their taking up this work as 
well as the principal duties of teaching. Again, there are the problems connected 
with our major and minor products, which are crying out for solution. Investi- 
gations into our gums, resins, kinos, fibres, tanbarks, oils, scents. The physical 
properties of the timbers must be exhaustively tested; also their durability. The 
rapid seasoning or kiln-drying of our timbers needs scientific investigation. With 
the diminution of timber supply the use of inferior woods for such degraded uses 
as sleepers, paving blocks, poles, and piles is indicated, and here research work is 
required, with a view to determining the best antiseptic system of impregnation 
to be adopted. Paper-pulp is another matter which Australia must take in hand 
seriously. The day is not far distant when the paper-pulp supplies of America 
MURRAY RED-GUM FOREST (E. ROSTRATA) AS THE FORESTERS HAVE MADE IT. 
will be so diminished that the price of pulp or paper will make it possible for some 
of our woods, grasses, or sedges to be put to this use. Destructive distillation of 
wood, and the utilization of wood waste for the manufacture of various products, 
are two large pieces of research. All these inquiries should be carried out at a 
properly-equipped Forest Products Laboratory. Such an institution should be 
quite separate from the Forest School, and, indeed, might very well be established 
in whichever State has the largest wealth of unexplored forest products. 
A very important part of the policy should he forest propaganda. The great 
mass of the people have but a hazy idea of the meaning of the word “ forestry,” 
while the objects which are to be attained under a forest policy are closed books to 
them. At present the Australian Forest League, branches of which exist in each 
State, has two publications—The Gum Tree in Victoria, and Jarrah, in Western 
Australia. Both are doing excellent work, and it is to he hoped that they will 
continue and obtain an increased circulation. Journals such as these might well 
be subsidized, so as to enable them to be published for more general distribution. 
At present they are dependent for the funds to defray the cost of printing on 
subscriptions from members and what can be obtained for advertisement. space. 
158. 
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