Denudation of Catchment Areas Disastrous Floods Cause of recurrent which ravage vas 'The theory that the disastrous is areas of Ching are mainly due to deforestation in the watehmen', reas of the rear rivers was] avariced in a lecture concerning the importance of forestry in Asia, delivered by Mr. D. Bourke Bor owes (who was for 21 years in the Indian Forest Service), under, the auspices of the Royal Asiatic Society. (North China Branch), in the Wu Lien-tch Hall, Museum Road, on Thursday evening.
The lecturer said:
What is forestry? Tt may the systematic scientific organisation and working of forests, To show the 4 ance of forestry, in Asia T compare what has been done in! British India during the, past, 50) genre ese with What has been (or left undone) in. other: parts of Asia. Excluding Japan, Which Tam not competent to discuss, greater progress _has accomplished by the British dia," than in "any other part, of 'Asia,' "Furthermore, the "Indian Empire, in size, in venge an variety' of climate and vegetation Bay fally be "compared, with Ehina—a country which, naturally, in of special interest to us here this evening.
Forestry in Indi la started as far ack as the early sixties of last century. The main reason for the Successful results obtained lies, in the fact that the Government has always pursued a definite and con tinuous forest Policy. This has Involved the provision of adequate finance, suitable legislation, and trained staff to carry out the Work and gradually to build up high standard of technique, will now summarize the practi gal "measures carried out, The forests have been accurately sur-Veyed., Legislation has been passed enabling the forests to be classified and legally, constituted vet Berea Toretestd, formate ial_care. has been taken tries such og turpentine, and tannin} extracts have been" organised. Targe sums of regular annual revenue have been provided to the) governments concerned. In normal! times the total amount net revenue the region of £2,000,000, I'now pass on to' review very) riety' the importance of forestry in other parts of Asia. Before leaving India, it may be mentioned that the actions of the governments British India have had a goat reaction in some of the large: Tndian States, the governments which have done a good deal conserve and develop. their fores! Fesources,. Again, British foreste have cartied forestry into the British Borneo, I one=
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.