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Samples of New Zealand timbers were forwarded to various forestry organizations in Australia and America, and collections of foreign woods received in exchange. A sawmillers' reference library has been established in Wellington. It will contain, when complete, series of catalogues covering the requirement of the various wood-using industries, besides plans and layouts of model plants. Forest-management. Silvical Research. Progress in the successful application of the principles of forest-management and silviculture is only possible as we have a working knowledge of Nature's modus operandi in the growth, regeneration, and life-history of the indigenous forests and trees. Unfortunately, many seai-s of conscientious observation are necessary to establish definite conclusions. With a full appreciation of this necessity, Canterbury College anil Auckland University College were approached early last year with a view to securing their co-operation in carrying out extended silvical investigations in our indigenous forests. The response in both cases to this appeal was generous and wholehearted. Mr. Charles E, Foweraker, M.A., M.Sc, F.L.S., of the Biological Department of Canterbury, consented to carry to completion the study of the ecology and regeneration of the taxad rain foresl of the Western Botanical District of New Zealand (generally known as the west coast of the South Island). A beginning was made by this gentleman in November, 1920, and studies were carried on through the summer held season. A brief progress report has been made: the complete report will be available in 1924. Provisional conclusions as reached by this investigator' indicate that the taxads rimu (Dacrydium. cupressinum), white-pine or kahikatea (Podocarpus dacrydiodes), totara (Podocarpus totara), silver-pine (Dacrydium Colensoi) do regenerate and reproduce vigorously, and the process of regrowth is in evidence everywhere where fire and stock are excluded. " The most obvious need " as pointed out by Mr. Foweraker, "is a system of fire-control." He has definitely determined that the outstanding need in the reproduction of flu- Westland forests shows " lire-prevention is the thing to aim at," and states " Repeated burns and excessive grazing doom regeneration." The service is now taking steps to eliminate these serious enemies to natural regeneration. Mr. W. R. McGregor, M.Sc, of the Auckland University College, has undertaken to carry through to completion the study of the life-history of the kauri (Agathis australis) and the ecology of the northern forests. Mr. McGregor definitely commenced this monumental study in November last, and already his investigations have proven of immense value to the programme of forest-management. This year's investigations have been confined almost entirely to the floristic aspects and to the general survey of the field under observation. Suitable sites for foresl meteorological and experimental stations have been selected, and the necessary plant and material has been collected. Mr. McGregor has been abb; to reach certain practical conclusions of a general nature : — 1. It has been definitely determined that the natural regeneration of kauri (Agathis australis). rimu (Dacrydium laxifolium), totara (Podocarpus totara). tnatai (Podocarpus spicatus), taraire (Beilschmiedia taraire), tawa (Beilschmiedia lawa), and certain others is dependent on the shade of a natural shelter wood. 2.' This shelter wood differs widely in nature, but is usually of two types : — (a.) Typical mixed forest, either virgin or cut over by selection fillings. In such situations the conditions essential for regeneration can usually be readily supplied if naturally lacking. (b.) Second-growth shelter wood, usually dominated by Leptospermum (tea-tree, or manuka). 3. Complete re-establishment of the regenerated stands under natural conditions usually requires a revolution of from twenty-five to fifty years. It follows, therefore, that all care should be taken of residual forest cover remaining after logging. This simply means fire-prevention. I. Timber-felling must be regulated so that the fire danger is minimized, and the itinerant gumdigger must be kept out. Sample Plots. In order that financial and economic conditions attendant to the regeneration of our indigenous forests may be accurately determined, areas of growing forests must be demarcated and the trees thereon carefully enumerated and measured from period to period. Several suitable plots were located and demarcated in Westland and plans were made for the definition of similar areas in other forest regions. Broadcast Seeding. At Kaingaroa Plains Plantation a profitable experiment was made in the broadcast sowing of Pinus insignis seed by mechanical means. The trial sowing this year was made through a grain-drill with disk coulters adapted so that the seed was fed through two spouts only and these about 6 ft. apart. The land received no special preparation beyond the clearing that is usually done for treeplanting. Where the coulters entered the ground properly the germination is satisfactory, and from this it may reasonably be inferred that the method is good and requires only that a specially constructed drill be used in order to be quite satisfactory. The construction of the ordinary grain-drill fits this implement for land that is cultivated and fairly even on the surface. On land such as was used in the trial under discusssion the implement was not flexible enough to permit the coulter entering the ground where the surface was uneven, and consequently there were numerous gaps where the seed was simply dropped on the surface of the ground and perished. An area of 4 acres was sown with 41b. of Pinus radiata seed mixed with 201b. of oats. The time occupied in doing the work was three hours with one man and three horses. From the trial made it is estimated that such work would cost from £1 to £2 per acre, the price varying according to the amount of preliminary clearing necessary before sowing the seeds.

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