Hamilton.— 0« the Forests of Neiv Zealand. 161 



rule, the rivers are in violent flood for about as many days as 

 they used to be for weeks in moderate flood. 



Turning again to New Zealand, we find that the extensive 

 burnings of the tussocks and small scrub has produced similar 

 conditions in many of our rivers, the rainfall flowing almost 

 immediately into the channels, and not being detained by 

 coarse or dense vegetable growth. Fortunately, however, 

 there are few places in this country where extensive replant- 

 ing is required for protective purposes. But in this part 

 of the South Island, the Otago and Canterbury Plains, much 

 may be done by the planting of timber trees suited to the 

 locality, the wood of which will be of service for manufactures 

 or industries. The experience of the European countries 

 and of the United States seems to show that a central 

 administration is essential, administering a well-drawn scien- 

 tific Forest Act, in conjunction with such local authorities 

 as may be advisable, the chief aim being to indicate the 

 proper methods of dealing with the timber now most easily 

 accessible so as to prevent undue waste, and, wherever pos- 

 sible, to encourage the work of reproducing the forests ; also 

 to arrange for easy access to the best forests, and to provide 

 for their safety from fire or unauthorised destruction. What 

 is required maybe shortly stated under the following heads : — 



Forest-manacjevient, which would deal with all parts of 

 forest science which influence the control and working regula- 

 tions, including finance. 



Forest-utilisation, which would deal with the technical 

 qualities of timber, consumption of wood, the felling and 

 shaping of trees, the disposal and transport of wood, the har- 

 vesting of by-products, such as resins and turpentines, &c. 



Forest-protection against fires and man, against animals, 

 insects, fungi, having regard also to climatic considerations. 



Lastly, sylviculture, or the creation, regeneration, and re- 

 covery of woods adapted to the varying local circumstances. 

 For this part of the country this branch of the subject has the 

 greatest importance, and demands an exact knowledge of the 

 principles of the science. 



Forestry, besides these branches of study, is largely based 

 upon empirical knowledge, and to insure the best results 

 forest science or theory must go hand-in-hand with practical 

 forestry, neither the one nor the other by itself making a 

 forest expert. The importance and absolute necessity of this 

 is shown by the courses followed at the various forestry 

 schools in Europe, at all of which practical instruction is 

 strongly insisted on. 



There is one other cognate subject that I should like to 

 say a few words on, and that is irrigation. If fruit-growing 

 and vine-culture is to be such an important factor with those 

 11 



