bo 
to 
Eo 
QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. [1 Mar., 1898, 
Forestry. 
FOREST CONSERVANCY. 
By A. J. BOYD, 
Queensland Agricultural Department. 
Part 4. 
Tus what I stated in my last article—viz., that the American system was utterly 
unsuitable for Queensland—will be apparent. Our timber areas are mainly 
located on the seaboard, from the Tweed River to Cape York, and they have a 
varying breadth of from 50 to 100 miles. Our inland forests are not continuous. 
They are broken by immense plains, and present no insuperable difficulties of 
supervision. The method adopted at the State forest on Frazer’s Island is 
eminently calculated to show how a forest may be kept up as to its timber 
supplies, by fostering the natural growth. : 
The first planting of kauri pine on Boginbah Creek was on areas cleared 
entirely of undergrowth, when the young plants were placed thickly in rows 
with the object of subsequently thinning them out. At the second planting, 
a different system altogether was adopted. Lanes, about 8 or 10 feet wide 
and 1 chain apart, were cleared through the scrub, the young trees being 
planted in the lanes. The natural features presented in these lanes, being 
different from those when the first planting was made, afforded the young trees 
a better chance than when growing in the latter locality. But even here a 
large number made but little growth at first. 
The system of lanes adopted by Mr. McDowall when the forest was 
under his charge is an admirable one, not so much for the purpose of planting 
as for a basis on which a definite system could be carried out, such as thinning 
out and clearing round the undergrowth, which has to some extent been done. 
In the blocks between the lanes where this thinning out and clearing away of 
undergrowth has been effected, there is a marked difference in the growth of 
the trees, compared with those which have been planted in the lanes. The 
young trees here haye never been disturbed, and are growing under entirely 
different—that is, under natural—conditions; the clearing away of the vines 
and creepers merely giving more light and breathing space. This comparison 
clearly demonstrates that, under any future system of forest conservancy that 
may be determined upon, the question of undergrowth must not be overlooked, 
and it, moreover, confirms the opinion given by many on this point. Mr. 
McLean, Under Secretary for Agriculture, in his report furnished to the 
Minister for Lands in 1889, says :—“‘I wish to point out clearly, and to lay 
special stress upon the fact, that there is continually going on a natural 
process of reproduction in nearly all, if not in all, our forests where any 
quantity of timber has been cut down, much better, in my estimation, than 
could result from artificial means, and which can be fostered at comparatively 
small cost to the State, in comparison with entering upon an extensive system 
of reafforestation. 
So marked was the difference in results from the two systems of treat- 
ment on Frazer’s Island, that I instructed the ranger in charge to continue 
the process of clearing round the natural growth instead of planting. ‘This is 
the true policy of forest conservancy in Queensland.” 
' 
