1 Noy., 1899.] QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. ‘A97 
DEMAND FOR QUEENSLAND HARDWOOD. 
It cannot but be a source of gratification to Australians to know that 
Australian hardwoods are in demand all over the world, particularly in England. 
nee a “run” on our timber has set in, the process of denudation will proceed 
at a vastly increased rate. How absolutely necessary must it then appear that 
the forests be at once taken under the protection of the State; that stringent 
regulations as to cutting and conservancy be adopted; that inspection be rigid, 
and penalties for infringement of the regulations be enforced without respect of 
persons. It is easier to control the first flow of the tide than to stem it when 
in full flood. To do what I have here indicated would not entail any great 
expense. A conservator of forests and a few extra, rangers are all that would 
be required, and their salaries and contingent expenses would be far more than 
recouped by the extra gain to the State in forest revenue. T do not say that 
such gain would be a direct profit to the Treasury. Probably the expenses would 
be heavier than the revenue, but that should not weigh for a moment in the 
scale when set against the preservation of our forest timbers for all time. 
PRELIMINARY STEPS, 
The State forests of Queensland are supposed to have an aggregate area 
of 162,877 acres, and other lands, classed as timber reserves, but which include 
areas reserved for other purposes besides forestry, include an area of 1,508,374: 
acres. I say that the forests are supposed to cover 162,877 acres, because it is 
highly improbable that any official in the colony can to-day state with certainty 
how much of the reserves is actually available for the production of marketable 
timber or how much has been completely denuded of such. 
Jn Queensland there are State forests in the following districts :— 
Place,  Area—Acres. District. 
Fraser Island .., ... 108,800 Maryborough. 
Barron River... Ho 1,450 ree Herberton, 
St. Mary an a 1,857 on Maryborough. 
Bungorah ex oC 2,300 cd St. George. 
Glastonbury... oon 4,480 cr) Gympie. 
‘Woondum ay . 640 : m 
Noosa ... a a0 640 eck as 
Kalkivan... ay 3. 5,600 3 4 
Como... Nis RE 5,766 5 
Marodian and Kilkivan 19,200 abit 5 
Warrah... = Pr, 7,100 a Maryborough. 
Brooyar... ney ae 5,544: ae Gympie. 
AMermdl 5 1. 162,870 
One of the first things to be done in the event of the formation of a 
Department of Forestry would be to have the above areas accurately surveyed 
‘und their timber resources examined and reported upon by competent men. 
Much of the land coming under the head of State forests “has comparatively 
little timber of any value on it, and such lands might be thrown open to 
agricultural selection wherever the soil is suitable for such settlement ; but 
where large quantities of forest or scrub timbers are found, on no account should 
such Iands be thrown open to indiscriminate selection, as the inevitable 
“consequence must be the extermination of what ought to be, and would prove 
to be, a most valuable asset of the State. 
It might be advisable to proclaim additional areas as State forests where it 
is found that owing to contiguity to a port or to navigable streams, to configura- 
tion of the country, to climate, soil, and to the classes and quantity of timber 
frees, such areas could be profitably worked. 
