C—3

18

Details of Trees transferred to Plantations, &c., 1918-19.

Whakarewarewa Plantation. The climatic conditions during the year were extremely variable. The winter was the severest experienced for a number of years, being unusually cold and wet. Copious rainfalls followed a late spring, and continued to the end of February, the benefits from which were largely counteracted by severe frosts in December, which retarded the growth of larch on the low-lying country, and on small areas of Douglas fir. There is nothing outstanding in the matter of tree-growth, this being if anything slightly below the average in the older compartments. During the short spells of dry weather fires were fairly frequent on the country adjoining the plantation. These invariably occurred on unoccupied lands during Sunday afternoons, and were probably caused by picnic or hunting parties. There were no losses from fire in the plantations during the year. Insect and other Pests. —A small caterpillar made its appearance late, in the season on the pine plantations, and was noticed on a few isolated specimens throughout the ten-year-old Pinus Laricio and Pinus Murrayana compartments, and to a less extent on Pinus radiata. It is apparently a species of Tortrix, and the damage done is confined to the current season's needles, which are bitten through and wither off. Rabbits and hares destroyed a few trees on the recently planted areas. Red deer also did some damage by barking a few of the established trees and trampling out some of the smaller ones. This damage does not extend over a very great area, but in view of underplanting being done throughout the native bush, and as deer make the bush their camping-grounds, they will have to be taken into consideration before this work is undertaken. Tree-growth. —On the recently planted areas Monterey pine continues to make strong healthy growth, and is rapidly outgrowing the bracken. Douglas fir and Weymouth pine have also made good growth. A small lot of Eucalyptus Macarthuri planted two years ago on somewhat exposed country are a complete failure, despite special precautions being taken at the time of planting to ensure a. crop. Sweet-chestnut are a very indifferent lot and have made very little height-growth. Establishing. —All the land suitable for tree-planting within the plantation boundary is now in trees. During the year 183,568 trees were received from the Rotorua Nursery, of which 1.80,000 Pinus radiata were planted on an area upon which trial planting of Eucalyptus had failed. The remaining trees, which comprised several species of Cupressus, were utilized for experimental work. As the result of a shortage of labour, clearing for tree-planting extended over a period of four months, and, owing to the lateness of the season, the btirning-off was difficult and expensive,

Where sent. Name of Tree. Number. Cryptomeria japonica .. Gupressus arizonica ,, Formosensis ,, glabra ,, macrocarpa .. Whakarewarcwa Plantation .. < ,, McNabiana .. ,, torulosa Thuja giganlea Pinus radiata Pseudo-tsuga Douglasii.. Sequoia sempervirens .. 15 80 81 35 2,425 47 4 170 180,000 32 675 183,564 f Acacia decurrens Waiotapu Plantation .. .. -< Pinus ponderosa scopulorum [_ ,, radiata 370 52,275 929,452 982,097 f Eucalyptus Macarthuri „ viminalis .. Kaingaroa Plains Plantation .. < Pinus Liaricio.. „ ponderosa scopulorum [_ ,, radiata 5,000 1,500 1,139,000 23,400 254,675 Puhipuhi Plantation .. .. .. Pinus radiata Sales to farmers—Timber and shelter trees Sales to public bodies—Shelter trees Soldier settlers (free) —Timber and shelter trees Native schools (free) —Timber and shelter trees 1,423,575 40,000 195,022 9,133 22,555 124 Total 2,856,070