e 
reservoirs, ranging as it does from 10 per cent. to 50 per cent. of their capac) 
forest preserves should be required to gather seeds of trees and plants and 
firewood wherever the trees can be judiciously spared. 
128 QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. [1 Fes., 1900 | 
KARRI V. TEAK. 
Tests—tensile and crushing (says the Practical Engineer)—were recently mall 
in Bombay to ascertain the relative strengths of karri wood ‘and teak. 
resulted in favour of karri. It was also found that the cost of beams of kal!) 
would be rather less than rolled steel beams, while teak would be rather molt) 
and that a solid timber beam 12 inches by 16 inches would make a more fireprotl 
floor than light rolled beams. al 
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FORESTRY. 
Mr. James D. Scuvyrer, at the Convention of the American Forest! 
Association, Los Angeles, speaking of the influence of forests, said :-— 
It is not well established that forests have any special influence in increase 
the rainfall of a region, although the presumption is that they have a slig!) 
tendency in that direction. But it is conceded that they have a very decid 5 
influence upon the temperature, In southern California, we particularly ne] 
all such influences to counteract the effect of desert winds upon our orchare 
and lessen evaporation upon our reservoirs. The loss by evaporation J} 
annually, according to their relative depth and surface area exposed, is one | 
the most important factors in estimating the duty of stored water. No oth : 
losses can compare with it, and anything which will lessen it will extend the? 
usefulness. A general extension of the forests of the arid region must ‘ 
marked effect in cooling the surrounding atmosphere, reducing the velocity #”) 
temperature of winds, increasing humidity, and lessening evaporation. 
feeforesting.— One of the encouraging features of the situation on the 
Pacific slope is the rapidity with which all forest trees, except the redwood, 
being reproduced wherever they are protected from fires and from the ravaa™ 
of sheep. Young pines, firs, and cedars spring up spontaneously where ¢ al 
is soil and moisture, and grow with vigour if let alone. This is a mark! 
contrast to the sand plains of Wisconsin, Michigan, and other eastern. Stal 
where the pine forests, once out, seldom reproduce themselves, but are replace’ 
by brambles and worthless brush. With proper care, therefore, the West 
forests can be made a constant source of revenue, continually replenished. 
Government Reserves.—A popular misconception of the intent and obj) 
of the Government in segregating forest reserves at the headwaters of 0 
streams is that they are to be forever left in a virgin state, and so lost to pu, 
utility. This opinion is widely held, and needs to be eradicted, for the reve™ | 
is really true. The forests are not and should not be regarded as too immacu!# 
for use. It is well recognised as far better and safer. to make them a soure® 
lumber and firewood, utilising the older trees and encouraging new growth, 1 
to allow them to go to maturity and decay untouched. ‘The guardians 0 
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them wherever they can be induced to grow. They should keep the yo) 
groves of trees properly thinned out, and have authority to sell sawlogs™ | 
o 
Fertility in Irrigation Water.—One of the important, though jth 
considered, uses of the forest to the irrigator is the conversion of org), 
vegetable mould into nitrogenous plant food. -This is going on through ",| 
agency of the ever-present bacteria, which reconyert the organic waste of 4. 
world into innocuous and useful mineral matter. Water, filtering throug a 
soil, is constantly bearing these mineral nitrates into the streams, and t oral 
out upon the lands. Streams from treeless mountains lack these nitrogeryy 
elements to a great degree, and the water has less fertility and is less yall@ 
for irrigation. 
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