Establishment and Tending of Timber Plantations 1 5 1 



the-year rainfall areas such as the western and south-western 

 coastal districts. 



(4) Natural Vegetation. 



The nature of the surface vegetation is also an important 

 factor to consider. Virgin veld, as a general rule, is by far the 

 best, as very little cultivation after planting is then necessary. 

 Weedy old lands, on the other hand, give much trouble in this 

 respect, and they should be thoroughly cleared before planting. 



(5) Object For Which The Plantation Is Desired. 



The object of management is a very important consideration 

 as the selection of the species to be growni, the distance from each 

 other at which the trees are to be planted, the subsequent tending 

 of the plantation, etc., are all governed by it. The object might 

 be for shelter for stock, for crops or for orchards, for the preven- 

 tion and arresting of erosion, or for the production of timber for 

 various uses such as saw-timber, for poles, fuel, bark, etc. 



(6) Selection Of Species. 



The factors of the locality having thus been assessed, and the 

 object of management having been clearly defined, the next step 

 is the selection of the species of trees most likely to suit the con- 

 ditions obtaining, and at the same time most likely to fulfil the 



purposes desired. 



The selection of the best species is perhaps the most important 

 and difficult matter of all, for on a correct choice depends to a 

 large extent the success of the undertaking. It requires a good 

 knowledge of the requirements and characteristics of different 

 trees, and an intimate acquaintance with the locality where they 

 are to be planted. In a paper of this nature it is not possible 

 to state definitely which trees should be planted in specified locali- 

 ties as the local conditions vary so very much throughout the Pro- 

 vince, and even in the same locality. At the end of this paper 

 will be found a list giving some of the characteristics and require- 



