FORESTRY IN CHINA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 16020, 11 September 1915, Page 4 (Supplement)

FORESTRY IN CHINA.

Ist a vast country like China, with an area

of nearly . 4,300,000 square miles, there should be enormous forest*. But the

greater part is- densely, populatedthe figures given.; are.-between 300,000,000 and 400,000,000—and the Chinese are said to prefer timber -j for fuel and - for building, whilst they do not practise forestry to any extent,, consequently the country generally is denuded of its trees wherever the population is large. Mr. Shaw's book on the subject {"Chinese Forest Trees and Timber Supply," T. Fisher Unwin), is an economic study rather than a technical work. It deals with the question of deforestation, showing what forests still exist in China, and the importance of conserving them and of replanting, a problem which other countries as well as China will soon have to face. He says that with the

awakening of the national consciousness is arising a desire 'to develop China's resources, arid to this end preserving and developing the woods and forests are of first importance. He has collected facts and information bearing on the subject from the writings and reports of travellers and officials in the belief that they will be helpful towards inducing the Chinese and * others interested to pay more attention to "timber growing. The love of trees by the ' inhabitants of China is seen in the fact that they are planted about their dwellings. "Every house has on© or several in its courtyard or garden, so that you mav expect "a village in the district where you see a wood, and the pagodas, which are the only places of public assembly, all . possess srroves which are usually ancient.*' On the other hand, all the great mountain ranges are no man's lands, and the trees are ruthlessly cut down by traders- Part 11. of Mr. Shaw's book is devoted to descriptions, and in some cases figures also, of the known timber trees of China. The " most important of these are cunninghamia, cupressus, larch, pine, spruce, and silver fire, ash, camphor,, cedrela, dalbergia, gingko, ' persea. oak, , stercuha, rheesj walnut, willow, and bamboo. ._.