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REPORT ON THE AH 1 FORESTAT lON OPERATIONS IN THE NORTH ISLAND, 1914-15, | l?y the Superintending Nurseryman, North Island, Rotorua.] tn presenting this report upon tin; afforestation-Work at the North Island stations for the past year I regret that, owing to the drought which was prevalent in most parts of the Dominion during the .spring and summer, the usual measure of success cannot be claimed. From August to February the rainfall was very light, and the few showers which were recorded failed to do any good owing to tho rapid evaporation of the moisture from the soil. In the plantations the losses have been greatest at Kaingaroa and Waiotapu, where the soil is greatly lacking in humus ; while at Whakarewarewa and Puhipuhi the losses are not greatly above normal. The losses in the nursery are principally due to the failure of many of the seeds to germinate. Those sown early in the spring have done fairly well, while the later-sown ones in most cases are very sparse. The growth has generally been very poor, but no doubt the moister conditions which commenced early in March will ensure a satisfactory autumn growth. During the year the area of land planted was 1,416 acres, the principal species used being Corsican pine and Monterey pine (P. radiala). Of the last-named species, the area planted was slightly over 500 acres. The total area of plantation in the North Island formed since the commencement of operations in 1898 is 16,340 acres. In the nursery the trees raised during the year are estimated at seven and a quarter millions, the principal species raised being Corsican pine, Monterey pine, yellowpine, Weymouth pine, Douglas fir, sweet-chestnut, Eucalyptus Macarthuri, and Eucalyptus resinifera r/randiflora. Owing to the failure; to secure seed of Corsican pine in 191.3 there are practically no trees of this species available for planting during the coming winter. The shortage in this respect is partly compensated for by the Monterey-pine crop, but the climatic requirements of these two trees being slightly different, this shortage will directly affect the planting at Waiotapu and Kaingaroa, where the Corsican pine is the more suitable tree to plant. Prison Labour. Following is tabulated information regarding this class of labour, ft is gratifying to be able to report that tho prison camps have been well supplied with prisoners during the year, and that tho average number employed is considerably greater than for the previous twelve months.

Summaries of Prison Labour.

Waiotapu Plantation. Whakarewarewa Plantatlo: Whakarewarewa l.'lai itation. :ni. Kaingaroa P Kaingaroa Plains Plai Plains Plantation. itation. Year. Averago Total Value Average per Average Total Value Avei employed. of Work. Man. employed. ol Work. J __l A verage per Man. irage per Average Tota Man. employed.' of 1 Average Total Value employed.' of Work. al Value Average Work. per Man. Average per Man. £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s, d. £ 1900-1 20-00* I 170 0 0 8 10 0 1901-2 18-00 437 18 6 24 6 7 1902-3 22-59 904 12 11 40 Oil 1903-4 30-00 902 3 0 30 I 5 1904-5 43-00 1,562 0 0 36 6 0 11-00 J 332 13 7 30 1905-6 42-56 2,440 8 5 57 6 9 > 14-19 771 8 4 54 1906-7 35-62 2,978 0 0 83 12 I 11-50 762 II O (i(i 1907-8 38-64 3,878 7 6 100 7 5 j 15-05 1,103 5 2 73 1908-9 32-83 3,496 19 2 106 10 4 13-16 971 10 0 73 1909-10 . 27-81 3,164 19 2 113 16 0 10-89 789 7 6 72 1910-11 : 23-45 2,390 7 I 101 18 7 10-44 ' 957 0 3 | 91 1911-12 17-04 1,750 5 0 102 14 3 11-16 934 19 9 i 83 1912-13 ' 15-20 1,198 Mi 9 78 17 5 9-51 931 3 2 97 1913-14 .. .. .. 11-66 1,019 17 3 j 87 1914-15 .. .. .. 15-56 , I ,225 16 7 78 i Totals.. .. 25,274 17 6 .. .. 9,799 12 7 Averages j 30-35t .. 68 18 9 l2-47§ " .. 73 * One month's work. t 12'08 years. t Nine months' w £ s. d. s. d. • £ .. . . 4 10 7 3 6 2 6 1 16 5 10 10 13 4 15 7 18 3 9 4 12-36 1,113 15 7 17-45 1,676 2,789 2 1 14-90 work. § 10-76 years. £ s. (1. s. (1. £ s. d. ! 5 0 90 I -1 i 8 8 96 I 5 ) 13 8 93 12 5 £ s. d. .. i 30 4 10 54 7 3 60 6 2 73 6 I 73 16 5 72 10 10 91 13 4 83 15 7 97 18 3 87 9 4 78 15 7 3 12-36 1,113 5 0 17-45 1,676 8 8 12-36 I 7-45 do i -t 96 I 5 73 2 1 14-90 2,789 13 8 93 12 5 fchs' work. S 10-76 years. . T Average Number Year. s , , employed. Value of Work. I Value per Man per Day. Waiotapu Plantation. 1900-13 .. i 30-35 i £ s. d. 25,274 1.7 6 s. d. 4 5 Whakarewarewa Plantation. 1914-15 1905-15 .. I 1556 .. : 1.2-47 I , 225 16 7 9,799 12 7 5 0 4 8 Kaingaroa Plains Plantation. 1914-15 1913-15 .. I 17-45 .. | 14-90 1,676 8 8 2,789 13 8 6 2 6 0