Victorian State Forests.

Evening Star, Issue 8530, 1 June 1891, Page 3

Victorian State Forests.

A few months ago' the first report of the I Conservator of Forests (Mr Perrin) for the colony of Victoria was issued. The report states that it is almost impossible to obtain trained foresters either in England or in the oolonies, the knowledge of English foresters beiDg limited to small plantations, with no knowledge of the management of the vast indigenous forests found in the ooloniesi Mr Perrin mentions that in the Indian service there are eighty conservators, with about 3,000 inferior officers ; and he recommends that a school of forestry be established at Dookie, so that young men may be taught and trainedtobecomepraoticalforeaterß. Aflsnowing what has already been acoomplishedW the raising of young trees, it is mentioned that in the season of 1888-89 as many as 15a.°W treeß were raised in the Maoedon and Oreswick nurseries, and planted in'- various places, and 74,000 were distributed to public bodies. During the past season, 1890, 210,000 were distributed or planted. The total number of trees raised in 1889-90 at the various nurseries amounted to 884,100. Ol these 2J0,000 were iequired for planting last season, and 624,000 were kept in stock: for next season, The total distributed to the public and planted during the last three years amounwd to l,063;OO0. A faVoraWe acnoucoyment in the report is to tbe effipot

thatathe revenue from forests hat been of a remunerative oharaoter. The receipt! from all sources, excepting those derived from grazing, amounted to L 18.202, the expendlture L16;218, leaving a oredio balance of nearly LI.OOO.