C—3

24

OONICJAT, TIn,T,S PIANTATTON, OTAfiO. (Area, 3,672 acres; altitude, 400 ft. to 1,050 ft.; commenced operations, 1903.) A steady rate of development in tree-growth is beiiifj; made at this station, and particularly pleasing are the I'inns Laricio on I lie eastern slopes. Unfortunately, much of the planted area is exposed to the violent south-westerly \yinds experienced from time to time in this district, and it is regrettable that we should have been visited by one of these gales at the most critical growing-period of the year. As might be expected, a good deal of damage resulted, although the majority of injured trees are showing evidence of recovery, which will be hastened by judicious pruning. The spruces, which are universally commanding more attention now than for years past, having become established, are developing rapidly, and so far show no tract's of disease. On the flats and gullies their headway is more pronounced; but even on the higher altitudes the trees do not yet show the leaning tendency so characteristic of other varieties-planted in similar situations. The gradual replanting with Pinus radiata of small blocks upon which unsuitable trees were originally planted is being steadily continued. Less horse-work was devoted to the fire-breaks, as the sheep kept most of the unplanted spaces comparatively free from vegetation. The services of the three men employed here have been used entirely for general maintenance work; but on labour becoming more plentiful it will be necessary to numerically increase the staff and undertake various works much in need of attention. The expenditure for the year amounted to .£1,087 16s. 2d., and total to date £32,408 7s. 7d.

Acreages of Trees planted.

Area. Name of Tree. Pure. Mixed. Pinus Ijaricio ■ .. ,, radiata ,, * austriaca ,, ponderosa ,, muricala ,, Benthamiana .. ,, strobus „ rigida ,, pinaster ,, halepensis „ Taeda Ijarix europaea ,, leptolepis Pseudo-tsuga taxifolia Picea excelsa ,, sitchensis Fraxinus excelsior ,, americana Betula alba .. . . . . . . .. , Populus (species) Alnus glutinosa Fagus sylvalica Salix viminalis Thuja plicala . . . . .. ... Cupressus macrocarpa „ Lawsoniana Sequoia sempervirens Robinia pseudo-acacia Quercus pedunculala Eucalyptus (species) Pinus ponderosa and P. Benthamiana Picea excelsa and Fraxinus excelsior Acer pseudo-plat anus arid Quercus pedunculala .. Pinus Laricio and Larix europaea Picea excelsa and P. sitchensis Pinus Laricio and P. ponderosa Pinus ponderosa and P. austriaca Acres. 1,013 433 169 204 14 10 3 1 2 I I 909 4 40 90 8A 16 3 44 12 20 2 2 13 611 i o 2" 2 2 Acres. 42 225 60 10 62 27 80 Totals .. 3,0271 506 3,5; 13'