AFFORESTRATION.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 876, 23 July 1910, Page 12

AFFORESTRATION.

* WORK OF THE YEAB. The number of seedling treee raised during the y*ar at Government nurseries, accoiding to the annual .report on Statsi nurseries and plantations, is estimated at 12,412,410—m0re than a million and c, quarter in excess of the previous year's results. The total number of seedling trees produced to date is 76,757,658, representing an estimated value of .£140,777, while the total cost of the operations haa been .£185,983. The continuation of an output on the present basis is expected. During the year 8,292,645 trees, valued at .£17,765, were transferred .to plantations' for permanent planting. The total output to plantations since 18JG is 50,545,775 trees, of an. estimated value of ,£113,362. Highly satisfactory results have been obtained from prison labour. The prisoners generally have taken a decided interest in all branches of the work, and the high percentages obtained in the growth of the trees planted is proof of the excellence of thrir work. An average of 52.23 prisoners per working day were employed, and the value of their labour i≤ es& mated at £4771. The report of the superintending nurseryman at Rotorua quotes figures to show that the average prisoner is capable of nearly as much 'work as the average free man. At Waiotarra the land within working distance of the camp will all have been planted by November, 1911, and after that it will be necessary to shift the camp into a new' block of land. For this purpose an area of 20,000 acres has been set aside.