State Nurseries and Plantations.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 29 July 1910, Page 4

State Nurseries and Plantations.

15 KIEF REVIEW OF OPERAT lON'S. RAISING OF TEES AND OUTPUT FROM NURSERIES. A report on State nurseries and plantations, presented ito Parliament by tiie Department ot Lands, gives tiie following particulars:— A good measure of success has been achieved at each of the nurseries, and the number of seedling treos raised during the year is estimated at 12,112,110. This number is Hither more than a million and a dtiarter in exceess of the previous years results, and, although the success or otherwise el ' the seedling crop is usually attributed to the climatic conditions, and also .to the quality ot tree-seeds obtained, yet it is evident that much care and discretion have been used in accomplishing such a favourable record. The total number of seedling trees produced since the of forestry operations now reaches 70,707.008, representing an estimated value of Cl-10.777, whilst the total

rest til' tt.lio operations has been J C 185.983 to date. Tlie live nurseries at present eontain itreo.s, ol' ages rangino- from one to four years, and the eniitiiMKitiou of ail output on the present basis may be anticipated. The output of trees from these five nurseries is assuming large] - dimensions. and during the past twelve months 8,2!>2,(i lo trees, valued at L'l7,7(m 2s ltd, were transferred to plantations for oermaii'ent 'painting. This statement reveals an advance of over a million trees on tlie previous year. The total output to plantations sinco 'the year 1890 is 00.0-l."),-77*j lives, and their value is compute!! at C113,:]()2 17s 7d. The difference between the total number of trees raised in nursreies and that transferred to the plantations, of about 2,•">()(),000 plains, i« accounted for by the distribution of plants to local bodies, creation of shelter-belts in nurseries, .and losses ->f seedlings due to the ravages of

tlif grass gruks. | TUKKS IT, ANT Ml) ON XKW AU l',A IMitnUng operations at t'lte various plautat ions were vigorously prosecuted, ami is was necessary to make provision for dealing with over halt a million mere trees than in the preceding season. Some little difficulty was experienced in the Si.nth Island (where casual wn;k is usually plentiful in the spring time) in obtaining the re(|uired labour for tree-planting and every effort will he in.ado in the future to prppam the necessary pits before tlie adwnt of the actual plantin it; period. Of the 8.292,0 |r, transferred from the nurseries, (>,811.821 frees as per schedules 1 and were planted on new areas -at the eight plantations, and occupv an extent of 2098 acres, whilst 1,180,821 were used to replant previous failures at the various plantations. The total area now under forest frei's amounts to I 1,831 acrcs, rontaining 33.001,020 trees. I'IUSOX A XT) I'RI'K LABOUR. From the reports of the officers in cJwirgo of stations where prison labour has been introduced, it will be noticed that highly satisfactory results have been attained. The prisoners generally have taken a decided interest in all branches of the work, and the high percoiiitages obtained in the growth of the trees planted is a sufficient proof of the excellence of the work performed. An average of 02.23 prisoners pel working-day were employed, and tlit value of their labour is estimated at C 1.771 7s tOd. In the AVliakarewarewn plantation the camp was removed to a new sill

at Kotokakahi. and at tlio present rate of tliero should be a sufficient area for systematical \v«»vkinyc in this locality for at least five .years. At Waiofapu 2,1>70.025 trees were planted in new area by the 127.81 prisoners engaged, and this nnmbei was supplemented by a total of 773,"20!) trees, which were doalt with bv free labour employed in conjunction with the prisoners. A reference to the extended operations projwsed foi Waiotapu will lie found in tlio Lands He port. At JTnnmer Springs, in Canterbury, a somewhat smaller sang was retained to rope- with the 1)i8,82G trees, but in this case also it was necessary to employ au average of !).">') free workers to complete the work in season. An area, of 1080

acrt.s ;ul,joining t.lio block flit present l)rin<!; operated upon at fir l .inner was resume:! out of (lie adjoining rim, and the link of t-lio coining season's tree-planting will be conducted on tliis exton-ion. The closo proximity ol' the newlv acquired area to ths present prison camp does not justify any expenditure being devoted to the removal of buildings. Tf, however, the block is still fiulhor extended, it would be advantageous to remove the camp to a more cen tral position; but in any ease tliis will bo quite imnecofwarv for at least three years, by which time the present- available area should be J)l:iii;ted. Free labour had bwn used exclusively at Conical Hill (Otago) Plantation. in dealing with 1,417,71"! trees, whilst at Dusky Plantation, also in Otago, only three men were required to carry oil tho general maintenance labour. KXI'KXDITUKK AND ECONOMY The expenditure i'or tho year a mounted lot 2s, iund tlie

total outlay on nuiseries and plantations since their initiation is £185/ \m 0s 10il. Up to tho present it has been impossible to prepare reliable statements of plantation assets, but every elf or t will be muUe during the ensuing year to inaugura'.te a system of valuation that will be applicable to each of the stations.

An O'liitstaii'diing feature of the year's operations, and which may rightly be reviewed with satisfaction, has heau tho eamiesfc attempts by 'the officers to promote general economy in ;ill transactions where such could he introduced without affecting the efficiency of tho work. Since tho inception of afforestation workin the dominion, the individual knowledge gained has been diffused, freely amongst officers generally, and it is only to be expected that the introduction annually of advanced methods of forests on the most economical and modern lines. The progress in this direction may be gleaned from the fact that the expenditure for ithe year under reviewwas considerably below that of preceding year, notwithstanding the increased amount of work performed. Tt is obvious from the report on Conical Hills Plantation that plantig by the "dibbling" system may be carried on with every probability of success on at least a portion of' the areas worked at the southern stations, and .as this method has proved immensely cheaper, and an excellent substitute in certain classes of ground for pitting aml pkntin g, provision is being made to continue the practice. As the nurseries have reached a high standard, and possess the necesnry building, implements, etc., for systematic working, a d<}\ greater proportion of expenditure ■may now be allocated to the actual raising and planting of trees. It must, however, not be overlooked that when Ithe afforestation scheme

was commenced in New Zealand a largo -expenditure was incurred in experimental work, and from wihieh the full benefits are now being derived,

ASSISTANCE TO INSTITUTIONS, ETC. Repeated reijiiea-cs lor general iuiGrnuuon 011 wee-planting matters nave Oeoii attended to wit-n proinptieuue, aliiiough il (.vcasmnaliy Juippeti.s tnat pi uv.sure ol u'lities iorijius the otticers entering into (Mails 01 ti.v .subject to the uesired extent. At tne .special request ol' the Education Department au.otiieer will I, at u convenient period, vi.sit tile Hurn,..am Industrial S.-nods, and dr-moii-strate to the boys tin*, work ol raising and planting in its various .-.tages. The management ol' the insiitii'tioi] i tvogiii.se the importance ol timber-production tor their ow.n re(jiiirenieiit.s, and l).v receivim' practical information on (li esubject, tliey will lie alile hi not only .add anu.thct healthy and profitable occupation to itluir syllabus, hut also be m it position to assist other similar mstitiuI tions by donat ions ol ciheaply grow n trees.