OUR FOREST PRODUCTS. 
turn now depends upon outside sources for her supplies. As an insurance 
measure, it would not be aniiss if this country knew everything that 
there is to know about the most economic available local sourees of 
supply. ey 
Regarding the every-day use of our timbers, practically nothing is 
known of their special suitability for special purposes. No comprehensive 
physical tests have been made of them, no honest effort has been ‘put for- 
ward to ascertain the best methods of preservation against the attacks of 
insect and fungoid pests, and no conclusive information has been gained 
as to the best methods of seasoning. Yet definite information upon each 
one of these points would prove of the greatest value to every trade 
which uses timber, and would greatly enhance its value as an exportable 
article. A striking commentary upon our methods is the statement, 
quoted elsewhere in this issue, of a leading American commercial man. 
America would probably import great quantities of timber if something 
were known of its varying qualities. Nothing of a helpful character 
is known, so consequently there is no business. 
A forest policy without a forest products laboratory is a half-finished 
job. ‘Facts of the highest economic importance would be gained after 
several years of investigation, and some of them might exercise an 
important and direct bearing upon the afforestation or re-afforestation 
policy of the future. There are large areas of our third-class country 
which, so far as can be judged at present, will never be profitably . 
devoted to agriculture. . It is not merely conceivable—it is highly 
probable—that they might even now be profitably devoted to sylviculture. 
A preliminary step taken by every individual who produces anything 
from the land is to ascertain what kind of crop it will pay him best to 
grow. A forest products laboratory should go far towards settling 
this point for the various States, and for the country as a whole. It 
might even be the means of establishing small plantations, owned and 
worked by the private individual. If for no other reason than to 
solve the mystery, and so rescue Australia from the humiliating position 
of being unable to furnish an answer of how Germany used the grass- 
tree gum which she imported, such an institution might alone be 
justified. 
—-E. N. R. 
