352 



ARBURICTLTrKE 



Arboriculture in New Zealand. 



Four letters in one mail from New Zealand, 

 all frdiTi (litFerent portions of the Dominion and 

 each along the same lines, indicate the burn- 

 inir interest in the subject of a future timber 



supply. 



The Dominion fJovernment of New Zealan<l 

 has been planting very largely of American 

 forest trees and the International Society of 

 Arboriculture has been in constant communi- 

 cation with the forest oMicials, and has sent 

 large quantities of seed, the last consignment 

 being fifty pounds of Catalpa speciosa seed. 



From plantings of Catalpa made last year at 

 thirty stations only one was reported as a fail- 

 ure. The bright prospects from the almost 

 universal success of this lot of seyd. determined 

 the government upon a more extended series 

 of experiments. 



Numerous private plantings have been made 

 by our correspondent's at Christ Church, 

 Devonport, Canley Park, Knapsdale Gore, 

 Fendalton. Dunedinand Adiscomb, all of which 

 report success to greater or less extent. 



When it is considered that New Zealand has 

 soil, climate, seasons and location so very dif- 

 ferent from what exists in Indiana, winter 

 occuring during our summer, spring during our 

 autumn, it will be seen that in these extensive 

 series of experiments, if only a small propor- 



tion survive it is all we should reasonably ex- 

 pect, but the indications are for a very great 

 success in all places. 



The forest growth in portions of New Zea- 

 land, like that of Australia, where we have 

 many subscribers, is largely of such trees as 

 the Eucalyptus and these have proven well 

 adapted to the semi-tropic regions of America. 

 Others have extensive tracts of very infer- 

 ior wood growl lis. 



li is to improve llu'si.' areas where the trees 

 are of lesser value, fhat it is hoped to succeed 

 in growing American forest trees and especially 

 the ("aialpa speciosa. 



Originally this tree was found in but two 

 state of the union, and in a very restricted area 

 of each, in all not to exceed one hundred miles 

 square, yet it is now growing successfully in 

 portions of Europe, Asia, in all of the United 

 Slates and in the South Pacific Islands. 



The Dominion Government has sent to this 

 society as a contribution, quite a(|uantiiy of 

 seeds of Australia forest trees, for gratuitous 

 distribution to citizens who may desire to plant 

 such trees, but the United States authorities 

 have demanded a prohibitive import duty on 

 these seeds, although the Treasury Department 

 was fnlly informed of the object and intention 

 of this society in their distribution. 



Minor Industries of Mexico. 



The allurements of great cities, the ex- 

 citements of every branch of business, the 

 innumerable forms of amusements, an 

 aggregation of human beings huddled to- 

 gether in restricted apartments which 

 cause an exodus from the farm, to swell 

 the population of commercial centers, is by 

 no means confind to the United States. 



Mexican cities and large towns contains 

 by far the greater portion of her popula- 

 tion. It were better this were not so in all 

 countries, and were agricultural pursuits 

 better understood and rural life and 

 pleasures were thoroughly appreciated, the 

 health, comfort and well beings of millions 

 would be greatly improved. 



P^ach city or district in Mexico seems to 

 have a distinctive industry. Sugar cane is 

 grown to a considerable extent, that being 



confined by soil, moisture, elevation which 

 gauges the temperature, and facilities for 

 transportation. 



The sugar has not the attractive appear- 

 ance of commercial sugars in the United 

 States, but possesses a larger portion of 

 saccharine matter. 



Corn is grown everywhere. And like 

 many ^ood farmers in our own country 

 carelessness in selecting the seed, causes the 

 lo.ss of millions of dollars in the aggregate. 



Of the great plantations where coffee, 

 .^ugar, rubl)er, tropin fruits etc., are grown 

 for export, we will discuss in another num- 

 ber. 



MHIXICAN I»K.\W.\ WORK. 



At Aguas Calientes, where the immense 

 shops of the Mexican's Central Railway are 



