1885.] IMPROVEMENT OF WOOLS AND PLANTATIONS. 253 



the bottom of the hills, and on to the west end of district No. 12. 

 This is to serve as a road, but need not be metalled, though drains 

 along the sides, when necessary, should be made. 



This area of 1338 acres thus proposed to be planted, need not 

 be so improved at once. For the crop would also then mature at 

 one time. It will be best to plant about 7 acres annually, begin- 

 ning on the north-west corner of districts Nos. 12 and 13, 

 and proceeding eastward by such annual increments as have 

 been indicated. At the same time, the stone wall should be 

 gradually erected, temporary deficiencies in protection from cattle 

 and game being supplied by a fence of hurdles. The trees should 

 be supplied from a small home nursery, which need not be greater 

 than an acre and a quarter. If the hares and rabbits which abound 

 be not cleared off before planting on the estate begins, they may 

 seriously retard its progress, increasing the expenditure to a higher 

 figure than what has been estimated. 



If, however, these improvements be skilfidly managed, the 

 thinnings should yield a clear income of about 15 s. annually per 

 acre, when the trees are about 22 years of age; of 25s. annually 

 when at 32 years of age, continuing at this till they have stood 

 40 years, when the trees left on the ground should have an average 

 worth of at least £85 per acre. The larches will have matured 

 at the latter age ; but the pines may show signs of further annual 

 increase, in which case the latter should be left, while the former 

 are removed as thinnings. But thinning should previously have 

 been undertaken say every four or five years, in order to remove 

 some trees maturing faster than their companions ; while branches 

 left on the ground at such periodic inspections should be cleared 

 off by burning or otherwise, so as to avoid harbouring insect pests. 



Death of a Lumber King. — A despatch received from Detroit 

 on December 9th says : — Thompson Smith, owner of all the property 

 at Duncan City, died to-day at Cheboygan. He was owner of 

 immense tracts of land, much vessel property, some of the most 

 extensive sawmills in the State, and was in fact one of the lumber 

 kings of Michigan. He also had lumber yards at Albany, New 

 York, and Toronto, Ontario. His wealth is estimated between 

 3,000,000 and 4,000,000 dols. He leaves a son and a daughter. 



Trade Catalogues. — We have received, too late for notice — 

 Dicksons & Co,, Edinburgh, Select Catalogue of Fruit Trees ; James 

 Dickson & Son, Edinburgh, Catalogue of Vegetable and Flower 

 Seeds ; and the Descriptive Catalogue of B. S. Williams, Victoria and 

 Paradise Nurseries, London. 



