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tors. Its chief advantage is that in twelve or fifteen months, 

 work can be accomplislied equal to ten years or more where ring- 

 barking is done. It has the further advantage of affording a 

 quick growth of sweet grass, especially if seed has been sown 

 broadcast over the ashes of the burn, as ought always to be done. 

 Its disadvantages are its first cost ; its destruction of what is often 

 a marketable commodity, the resulting firewood is too charred to 

 be acceptable for household purposes, and very little remains if 

 the work is properly done. The intense heat of the fire destroys 

 the humus layer, even burning into the soil in places. These 

 patches of burnt ground, especially where piling has taken place, 

 are often the cause of the introduction of one of the worst pests 

 to the grazier in the cooler and moist districts — the bracken fern. 

 Its spores are blown considerable distances by wind, and find the 

 best of material for germinating on when they strike a patch of 

 burnt earth or charcoal debris. Grass, on the other hand, avoids 

 the severely burnt patches. The burning-off is also a source of 

 great danger to neighbouring properties. 



Ring-barking, prior to burning of the dense undergrowth, is a 

 good method where practicable. In districts like Gippsland, a lot 

 of rubbish is destroyed, including shoots from the trees. But it 

 may not always be possible to combine the two, the undergrowth 

 being too dense to permit of ringing till after the burn. 



An argument is often put forward in favour of ring-barking, as 

 compared to felling or grubbing, and that is the loss of "goodness" 

 to the soil. It is maintained that a ringed tree returns something 

 to the soil, which is lost to it otherwise. Such a theory cannot 

 be accepted, except it be that the resulting decaying debris acts 

 as a top dressing, in other words, humus. If a tree can directly 

 return " goodness," then the object of ring-barking will fail. The 

 tree grows from the top downwards. The operation of ringing, 

 if successful, is as effectual in severing connection between head 

 and I'oot as felling would be. Even allowing the possibility of 

 such an action, its influence would be restricted to the roots and 

 the soil directly surrounding them. If any reason exists for the 

 better growth of grass near stumps or on sites previously occupied 

 by them, it may be put down to the influence of decayed vegeta- 

 ble matter, and the, so to speak, trenching operations, caused by 

 the roots of the tree having given the soil an upward lift as they 

 increased in size. 



This article is written after a series of experiments, extending 

 over three years. The question, when to ring-bark, may not be 

 actually proved to satisfy all districts and species of trees. But 

 it is hoped that the remarks made, may, in addition to the expe- 

 riences gained by others, assist future operators and lessen the 

 often tedious work. 



