21

C—IB

Volume of Timber ascertained by Sample-plot Methods. The collecting and tabulating of records bearing on the annual increment and timber volume of growing trees in our youthful plantations has now been instituted, as it is chiefly in the possession of such data that the correction of close planting can bo determined, and thinning resorted to. Some eight sample plots have been permanently pegged off at Dusky Hill Plantation and one at Tapanui Nursery by Mr. W. A. Fraser, B.Sc. (Forestry), and the statistics relating thereto are appended. Most encouraging returns are revealed in the tables, and it is evident, that trees planted in New Zealand, develop with greater rapidity than in either Great Britain or Germany. For instance, at Dusky Hill the volume of timber per acre over a fifteen-year-old larch area in Serial No. 1 amounts to 2,565 cubic feet, whilst only 1,890 cubic feet is calculated in the yield tables over a twenty-year-old similar block in Saxony. Perhaps the plot of pure Pinus radiata (which has been planted at slightly over 8 ft. apart, and has developed rather heavy branching habits) discloses the most satisfactory returns, as after nine years planting 3,009 cubic feet of timber has been produced, whereas in North Germany less than 800 cubic feet of the comparatively fast-growing Pinus sylvestris is expected over a similar growing-period. A minute examination of specimen larch shows the annually reducing rate of girthexpansion, and a light thinning in the more advanced blocks might be undertaken at any time now with improving prospects. Arrangements are now complete for the subdivision of blocks in the South Island plantations by a competent surveyor, and efforts will be made to place the earlier plantings on a more satisfactory basis for recording purposes.

Details of Sample Plots, Tapanui District.

Fire-breaks.—Substituting Grazing for Cultivation. For the past three years the increasing amount of labour devoted to the keeping of fire-lines in an efficient state emphasized the importance attached to the substitution of some means that might be advantageously employed in attaining the same purpose with a reduced expenditure, and successful trials extending over that period have been made with a small flock of sheep. The animals were liberated on the Conical Hills Plantation, where trees have attained a height ranging between 5 ft. and 25 ft. Tho optimistic opinions harboured have been borne out by direct results, as the sheep have remained well on the fire-lines, and kept the herbage closely oropped. No damage to trees has

a o I 0Q .5 o ft O p 3 Species. i S 1 i Pi H . g» o a <L> ■ og p. £« |n to o,.S »:« . 2-h -g-g* g g« 3 p rfs to I--W -inv <! K 1-53-8 ' s «" ai P s o S O-l Wj o S» . « .-« to <! u &l a | 53 H S> 2 <i CO o *-< c 111 s Volun Cl in per Acre, in itiic Jeet. a- . O - © 7£g H O I 0-30 .European larch . . Douglas fir Norway spruce . . Ash ' .. 15 15 9 15 2,032 196 120 330 596 0 26 0 110 14094 330 1,326 56 0 0 4-70 4-75 37-0 15-0 2-5 20 0 2,380 70 185 15 2.565 85 2,678 632 674 1,382 I 2,450 200 2,650 II 0-20 European larch . . Douglas fir Norway spruce .. Ash 14 14 9 14 2,230 225 180 385 345 0 15 10 105 225 145 375 I ,720 0 0 0 4-45 34-0 10-0 2-5 20-0 ! 2,124 374 2,498 Maritime pine Oak, ash, sycamore 3,020 390 910 I ,720 2,124 374 2,498 111 0-20 14 14 2,240 746 250 0 170 746 I .820 0 4-70 30-5 18-0 3,17.1 398 3,569 2,986 250 916 1,820 3,171 398 3,569 IV 0-20 European larch .. Walnut 13 13 2,652 108 277 107 375 1 2,000 0 3-85 29-0 1,800 662 2,462 Japanese larch 2,760 384 376 2,000 1,800 662 2,462 V 0-20 14 2,560 360 400 1,800 4-00 25-5 1,776 | _J 2,335 486 2,262 VI 0-20 Austrian pine Oak, ash, sycamore 14 14 2,160 750 35 0 170 746 1,955 0 4-20 20-5 15-0 I 305 2,640 Populus deltoides 2,910 35 916 I ,955 2,335 305 2,640 VII 0-40 it 795 17 no 668 4 00 27-5 545 303 848 nxi 0-20 European larch .. Walnut 12 12 165 73 3-70 26% 2,425 108 585 35 1,675 0 1,148 312 1,460 Pinus radiata 2,533 238 620 1,675 I , 148 312 1 ,460 0-24 7-35 42-5 IX 538 5 533 2,869 140 3,009