The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1881-02-02

now being taken by the Society to
import nuts of some of the better
kinds, which will be placed in suitable
hands for cultivation by themselves,
and also to procure and promulgate
information from sure sources as to
the preparation of copra, the manu-
iacture of cocoa-nut oil, prices,
markets, ETC., after which the society
can do no more than leave the mat
ter to the natural operation of indus
trial enterprise. The labor question,
as affecting this and other cultural
industries, involves political consider
ations which prevent Its discussion
in this report; but l must not refrain
from expressing my belief that these
industries can never be profitably de-
veloped in Northern Queensland ex.
cept by Coolie or Island labor.
Forest Conservancy.-Having
been desired by you, verbally, to
make any observations in my power
which might assist in dealing here.
after with the question Of Forest
Conservancy, l lost no opportunity
OF comparing my own views upon
the subject with those of many intel.
ligent persons engaged in various
ways in timber getting. There car
be no question that the subject is one
OF extreme Importance to the future
Of the colony, and the fact that we
have still enormous tracts of tim
bered country affords facilities for
dealing successfully with the ques-
ton, inasmuch as, If now systemati-
cally and intelligently handled, the
costly and difficult phase Of replant
ing need never arise.
Further experience has induced
me materially to modify the views
expressed to the Government in
1871, (see proceedings OF the Legis.
lative Assembly 1875, Vel H., page
1900, when I was honored by an in-
vitatlon to make suggestions for a
Forest Conservancy system. I am
now quite satisfied that no really
practical good can be effected until
the Government are prepared to ap-
point departmental officers OF various
grades, whose duties shall be solely
confined to regulating and guarding
the telling OF the natural timbers, and
the creation and preservation Of tim
Der reserves. The example of India
abundantly proves that this may not
only be accomplished without being
charge upon the state, but that
such a department, properly worked,
may be made source of revenue.
Gazette notifications upon the sub
ject Of telling timber are OF no prac-
tical effect unless the orders of Gov
ernment are enforced while to do
this effectually, the officers charged
with the duty should not have their
attention distracted by the imposi-
ton of other incongruous duties.
The Indian Forest Department is so
admirably organized, and its success
has been so marked, as to indicate it
as an excellent type on which to
found a department of our own; and
there is little doubt that the Govern
menC of india would willingly lend
to the Queensland Government a
competent officer to examine our
forests, and to prepare scheme for
their management and preservation.
The expense of this preliminary step
would not be great, nor need it COM
NIT the Government as to their
course of further procedure, while
it is more than probable that a plan
would be devised under which a
Forest Department could be made,
at the least, selt-supporting, and in
course of time even q source of
revenue.
Cedar Forest.-In the meanwhile,
as our rich cedar forests are all too
rapidly disappearing, a preliminary
step might with advantage be taken
by the issue of a memorandum to the
various persons engaged in the cedar
trade, inviting suggestions from them
tor regulations which, while not
needlessly represslng the industry,
would prevent much OF the needless
telling OF this valuable timber, which
despite existing regulations, is now
undoubtedly going on. From cun-
versation with many persons, both
nasters and men, engaged ii the
trade, find every disposition - sub