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vigour. The destruction was mostly confined to the early planted blocks of Larix europaea. Pinus Laricio, P. ponderosa, P. Benthamiana, Betula alba, &n6*Robinia pseudo-acacia, covering an area of about 80 acres, over which about 160,000 were burnt. Perhaps half of this number will be a reasonable estimate of trees permanently injured ; but it cannot rightly be asserted that the plantation, even prior to the conflagration, was a success, as the prevalence of large implanted spaces throughout permitted the formation of coarse lateral branches, and so defeated the object originally aimed at. Some 450 acres of treeless area have been fenced off and leased for grazing purposes, whilst greater security from any future outbreak of lire lias been gained by securing the services of the enthusiastic local officer of the Justice Department, who exercises a vigilance over the planted reserve, and is fully empowered to run a limited number of sheep to keep cocksfoot and other rank vegetation in check. It is needless to emphasize the excellence of this substitute for fire-breaks. Exceedingly fine progress is being made by all varieties planted, and this can only be attributed to the abundance of moisture found in the substrata by the gradually extending root-system. Appended are statements of expenditure. Trees Account, &c, which include liberal allowance for losses enumerated. Schedule ll. — Statement of Experulitun . For Year. To Date. Planting operations and maintenance— £ s. d. £ s. d. Tree-planting .. .. .. .. .. 1,777 10 7 Pitting .. .. .. .. .. .. 3,898 11 1 Clearing .. .. .. .. .. 13 5 0 Cartage of trees .. .. .. .. .. 73 10 6 General upkeep of plantation .. 25 18 6 1,505 17 4 General repairs .. .. .. .. .. 23 17 8 Horse-feed Permanent works— Fencing .. .. .. .. .. 122 17 10 Formation .. .. .. .. 158 5 7 Buildings .. .. .. .. 41 2 8 Stock, implements, &c.—Tools, implements .. I 4 11 276 3 2 Supervision and clerical— Salaries— Supervision of free labour .. .. .. 347 14 9 ~ prison labour . . . . . . ItiT 10 3 Nurseryman's proportion and clerical assistance .. .. .. ..5 0 1) 108 14 0 632 3 5 £8,815 8 5 Estimated value of prison labour (apportioned in above items) .. .. .. ... 2.365 14 7 Actual expenditure .. .. .. .. £6.449 13 10 Schedule lll. — Trees Account. Number. Trees received during year Less, to replace blanks Planted on new area Previously planted .. .. .. 569.640 Total number planted on 209 acres (average age, 6 years) . . .. 569.(140 Schedule I V.- Property Account . £ s . d. Land (857J acres) .. .. .. .. .. .. 3.600 0 0 Buildings Stock Improvements .. .. . . .. . . .. 158 7 7 Fencing .. .. .. 122 17 10 Stores in hand . . . . . . . . . . . . I I I I t3.882 10 4 Balance-sheet. £ s. d. Total expenditure (prison labour included) .. .. 8,815 8 5 Less Property Account .. .. .. .. 3,882 10 4 Cost of operations .. .. .. .. .. .. £4,932 18 1 209 acres planted ; (average age, 6 years) Estimated value of plantation per acre .. .. .. .. £10 5 0 R. G. Robinson. Superintending Nurseryman.