OUR FORESTS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 512, 20 May 1909, Page 6

OUR FORESTS.

HOW TO USE AND HAVE. A BOTANIST'S SUGGESTION.' THE EXAMPLE OF AMERICA. Iho Timber Commission, which coinmenoes its Wellington sittings this afternoon, was sot up to inquire into tho timber and tim-ber-building industries. It ought, therefore, to bo interested, in a secondary degree at least, in tho question of tlio preservation of Now Zealand forests, since when all tho foreste are 'destroyed mere can bo no further local timber industry. Several of tho members of tho commission are known to be enthusiasts for the preservation of tho Native bush on other grounds. It appeals to them by its beauty, and they recognise the good effect of forests in regard to tho catch-ment-areas and climate of a country. But forests are continually giving place to settlements, and whore settlements do not requiro a clearing the axes of "the bushfcllere aro busy cleaving timber for the mills. When tho big trees aro removed! and no more timber is immediately available for the markot or for "way-back homes, a'careless match is often allowed to destroy tho remainder of the bush, which is accounted worthless.. There has always been an impression that the Now Zealand bush, whero once destroyed, can never be renewed. A local botanist, however, . informed a Dominion representative that tho impression was a purely popular one, and that thei;o was no scientific warrant for it. Native forests, were replanted and preserved in other parts' of tile world, and no reason had been ebown why the Bame oould not be done, to a. largo extent at least, with the Now Zealand bush. It is known, for example, tha,t the totara bush will reproduce itself, and/ this expert, was of opinion that a system oould be adopted by which tie large timber trees oould be removed from tho New Zealand forests for milling purposes, and the remainder of the bush preserved. Among tho smaller trees that would be saved many would probably be found to have commercial uses in the future. Ho suggested that this matter might be considered by tho Timber Commission, and that tho Government might bo reoommended to set aside areas of State forests in. which experiments could be carried out in transplanting and preserving forest trees. What Is Dime In America. The importance of forest conservation is fully realised in the United States, whoso people have learned the secret of how to utilise the .forests, and at the ,same time preserve them. _.A little volume, called "Tho Use Book," which is published by the Forest Sorvice of their Department of Agriculture, and of which tho latest issue has just arrived in Wellington, gives some interesting information on this subject. "Tlio Use Book" consists of regulations and instructions for the use of the national forests. These forests, aro created to prcsorve a porpotual supply of timber for home industries, and prevent destruction of the forest cover which regulates the flow of streams, and to protect local residents from unfair competition in the use of forest and range. They are patrolled and protected at Government expense for the benefit of the oommunity and tho home"Wo know," states "Tho Use Book," in words strangely appropriate to New (Zealand, "that the .welfaro of every community is dependent upon tho cheap and plentiful supply of timber; that a forest cover is a most effective means of maintaining a regular stream flow for irrigation and other useful purposes/ and that the permanence of the live-stock industry depends upon tho conservative use of the range. The in--jury to all persons and industries which results from the destruction of forests by fire and careless miso, is a matter of history in older countries, and has long been the caaso of anxiety in : tho United States. Tho protectibn of the forest resources still existing is'a matter of urgent local and national importance. This is shown by the exhaustion of lumbering centres, often leaving behind desolation and depression in business; tho vast public and private losses' through unnecessary forest fires; tho increasing'use of lumber per capita by a_ rapidly increasing population; tho decrease in,the summer flow of streams just as they beodiho. indispensable to manufacture or irrigation; and the serious decrease in tho carrying capacity of tho summer rango. It cannot bo doubted that, as President Roosevelt has said, 'the forest problom is, in many ways; tho most vital internal problem of the United States. 1 " Forests' First of All for Use. It. is also pointed out that - "in the administration of the forest reserves it must be clearly borne in mind that all land is to be devoted to its most productive use for the. permanent good of tho whole people, and not for the temporary benefit of individuals and oompanies. All the reeouroes of forest reserves are for _1 use, and this use must bo brought about in a thoroughly prompt and businesslike manner, un'dor such restrictions only as will instjre the permanence of the« resources."Permanent .fiold officers are employed by the Forestry Department,jnd. provision is made for sales of timber from the forests, tho timber being cut by the Department's lumbermen. Before any trees are allowed to bo felled for sale the forest officer must decide whether the timber is mature, and whether, if it is cut, a second, growth will replace it. In any sale of green timber, goM reproduction, and in mixed forests reproduction of the more valuable""kinds, must be assured before a sale, can bo recommended. Wherever possible a stand of young thrifty trees must be left to form tho basis'of a second crop. The-method of logging to bo used is oxpected .to bo ascertained and its-ef-fect upon the forest considered. If it.will, cause serious damage to the reproduction, oi is likely to causo erosion, the examining officer can recommend measures to prevent, this damago. In certain cases provision is mado that all trees destined for cutting shall be first marked by an expert official, and penalties are laid down' for the destruction of trees not so distinguished. Elaborate pre--cautions are also taken against the destruction of tho forests by fire.

Application to fiew Zealand,

It is not suggested that an army of State employees should bo enlisted in New Zealand in connection with tho preservation of its forests,:but it is possiblo. that some regulations might bo made to chock tho wholesale destruction of bush areas, - which often quite nnnccossanly follows the operations of settlement and milling. Tho botanist who broached tlwsubject to our representative is confident that % a system of making drives through the Zealand forests, trees required for milling could be extracted without causing any material damage to tho remaining bush Tho younger trees would flourish as the old ones were removed, and the busK would be preserved for timber as well as scenic and other purposes, until a distant future stead of being doomed, as now appo V s to be tbe case, to a comparatively early'extinction