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It is not generally understood how tires destroy the fertility of the soil in tussock and scrub country. It has been established as a fact that nitrification is caused by Ihe act ion of micro-organisms and that their action is destroyed in an absolutely dry soil. The dired harmful effect of lire is ihe destruction and prevention of the formation of humus, which is the source of all vegetation : the first results are the absolute desiccation of the superficial layer and th destruction of the micro-organisms which are in it. ft has been hown by Henry that dead leaves, except on pure sand, possess in a high degree the faculty of deriving nitrogen direct from the air. The proportion of nitrogen in leaves is less vi the lime of their hill than when they have been some time on the ground, as it is absorbed from the atmosphere after falling. Every fire, therefore, largely lessens the fertility of our tussock, fern, and scrub lands. We have treasures m our scenic reserves which In years to come will be thought priceless by our successors. If it is largely our scenery that makes this Dominion one of the most delightful countries 111 tin- world, surely it is worth our while to make strenuous attempts to preserve xxJiat nature has so lavishly supplied. As Rooseveldl latelystated.no nation with purely utilitarian ideals ever reached real greatness in its highest sense. Our unimaginative settler who protests against the reservation of ;i very small percentage (and that generally p ' land) of the country for scenic and like purposes would be astonished at the stupidity of the Londoner. Berliner, and Parisian lor not cutting up into allotments the beautiful parks of their cities. I read recently thai a proposed railway-line in Germany has actually been diverted so as not to spoil the scenic beauty of some spol cherished for its beauty. In England pieces of fern land have been I ought solely to preserve their distinctive plant-covering. In Canada one reserve alone of .'55.00(1 square miles !■ If at present a large mini her of the ail lilts in t his count ry ilo not appreciate ils beauties, then we must try to teach their children to do so. E. Philltps Turner, Inspector of Seenie Reserves.

APPENDIX C, Report ov the Scenery Preservation Board. The passing of the Scenery Preservation Amendment Act of last session affected the Board, inasmuch as it added a new member to the personnel In the Under-Secretary of the Native Department, and also conferred power on the Board to report upon and recommi nil !he acquisition of Native land in ! dilit ion to their existing powers of recommending the acquisition ami reservation of Crown and private freehold lands. Under the present law. therefore, the Board may recommend the acquisition ol anx 'las.-. of land that, in its opinion, is suitable for scenery-preservation. It is almost needless to remark that the Hoard exercises the greatest care in making its recommendations, and that, unless in very exceptional case-., it does not desire the purchase anil reservation of land eminently suited for settlement purposes. The great bulk of land recommended by the Board is cither quite unlit for settlement, or else could only he utilized in large areas al a low [< nt. anil could only support a very sparse population. The exceptions to this comprise cases where the land recommended lor reservation contains th ilv picturesque bush in the locality, and where the resident.-; themselves an- strongly in favour of the reservation of the land, or where the land possesses unusual claims to reservation through its unique beauty and scenic attractions. During the twelve months ended -'list March, 1911. the Hoard has held the following meetings : - Al Wellington, on the Ith May. 1910, In deal with Otago lands. At Wellington, on the 7th May. 1910, to deal with Nelson lands. At Wellington, on the 21st October, 1910, to deal with Canterbury lands. At Wellington, on 21st November, 1910, to deal with Wellington lands. At Wellington, on 21th November, 1910, to deal with Westland lands. At Wellington, on llth January. 1911, to deal with Wellington lands. At Nelson, on the 25th February, 1911, to deal with Nelson lands. At Christchurch, on the 3rd March. I'.UI. to deal with Canterbury lands. At Wellington, on 9th March. 1911, to deal with Taranaki lands. Meetings of the Board 1o deal with lands in the Auckland. Hawke's Bay, Taranaki. Otago. and Southland lands arc called for and xxill lie held at an early (late. The meeting to deal with the Auckland lands was endeavoured to be held in .Auckland at lie- end of Man h. but lapsed as a quorum could not be obtained. Seventy-four specific recommendations regarding the reservation of land lor scenic purposes were submitted, most of the land dealt with being Crown land. Sonic of them have been given effed to, and the remainder are under the consideration ol Ihe Government. In addition, the Board also made one or two suggestions regarding the acquisition of land for public recreation and other purposes. John Strauchon, Chairman, Scenen Preservation Hoard.

Approximate < oel oj I'aper. — l'rcparatiou, not aiveu ; printing (1,500 copies), i:> 1 i

Authority, .tons Mackay, Government Printer, Wellington

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