17

C—lβ

acquisition from several points of view, as. apart from its being very suitable for tree-planting, it requires only about 100 chains of fenoing and fire-break, whereas on the old boundary 220 chains had to be maintained. The growth made by the trees during the past season has been entirely satisfactory,! he damp weather experienced during the greater part of the growing season having favoured the young plants to a marked degree, and it can safely be said that in no previous year has the growth been more rapid. The bulk of the planting was made up of Pinus Laricio and European larch, and both species have done remarkably well. On the whole, the percentage of failures amongst the former is about equal to that of previous seasons, although the deaths are not evenly distributed, and are most noticeable on certain areas which were planted in the middle of winter, when the frosts were most severe. It has been found by previous experience that Pinus Laricio, along with other species of pines, does not do so well if planted when the ground is very cold ; and, if possible, the planting should be completed before such time, but with the large number to handle this was impossible. Amongst the larch there is an almost entire absence of failures, and there will probably be little or no replanting to be done. Small plantings of Douglas fir, white-cedar, and various species of pines have all done well, with the except ion of Pinus teocote, which were mostly killed by frost in the spring. For the same reason Eucalyptus Stuartiana, which were planted on bare exposed land, also suffered severely. The planting of blanks was mostly confined to Pinus radiata and E. Stuartiana on the same block, where unfavourable conditions caused a considerable number of failures during the previous season. Throughout the plantation the older trees have made rapid growth, quite equal to any previous year; and although several frosts occurred during the summer, beyond discolouring the foliage of the larch no damage was done. Pits to the number of 62,000 were left available for the coming season, when it is expected that about a million and a quarter trees will be dealt with. Statements of the expenditure, &c, for the year are attached.

Schedule IF. — Statement, of Expenditure. For Year. To Date. Planting operations and maintenance — £ «• <•• £ »• d. General utilization .. .. . . .. 68 17 7 Tree-planting.. .. .. .. 583 4 9 4,164 4 8 Pitting .. .. .. .. 539 6 IJ 5,337 18 9 Clearing .. .. .. .. 346 13 8 5,924 0 5 Cartage of trees .. .. .. 29 18 11 311 17 I General upkeep of plantation .. .. 909 17 0 6,289 8 10 General repairs .. . . . . 55 5 3 398 3 9 Horse-feed .. 143 13 5 840 18 11 Permanent works — Fencing .. .. .. .. .. 1,078 1 10 Roadmaking .. . . .. . . .. 368 15 2 Formation .. .. .. .. 7 16 11 196 9 4 Buildings .. .. .. .. 0 6 0 863 L3 7 Water-service . . . . . . 8 16 9 95 5 0 Stock, implements, &c—Tools, implements .. 23 6 0 620 10 5 Supervision and clerical— Salaries — Supervision of free labour .. . . 282 19 0 prison labour .. 200 0 0 3.062 18 10 Nurseryman's proportion of clerical assistance .. .. .. 150 0 0 £3,347 14 7 £29.921 4 11 Statement of Value, of Prison Labour. For Year. To Date. Planting operations and maintenance s - ''■ £ s - J-Tree-planting .. .. .. .. 285 6 Id 1,558 8 3 Pitting .. .. .. 34 10 0 516 I 6 Clearing .. .. .. .. 270 0 (t 1.557 I 8 General upkeep of plantation .. .. 336 14 6 1,386 8 9 General repairs .. .. .. 3 12 6 310 6 5 Miscellaneous works .. .. .. 115 11 95 19 -I Permanent works Fencing .. .. .. .. .. 7 13 0 Formation .. .. .. .. .. 984 1 7 8 Buildings .. .. .. .. .. 205 i<; 0 £934 19 9 £6.622 15 7 Average daily number of prisoners employed during year .. .. 11*16 ., since camp stinted . . 12-17 &—C. Iβ.