The Growing of Mine Props on the High Veld. 2ti7 



Eucalyptus Deanei. 



Is a later introductiou of some promise, but not yet widely enough 

 tested. It is similar to Euc. viminalis in growth and appearance, 

 and has the advantage of a denser foliage. 



Cost of Planting and Maintenance. 



It is of little value to base the costs of operations for any 

 particular scheme on general averages as so much depends on local 

 conditions. Costs should be worked out at "per acre" as a fixed 

 unit, not per tree as is so frequently done. The reason for this will 

 be readily understood when it is pointed out that whereas tlie original 

 planting may be anything from 1210 to 2722 trees to the acre, the 

 final crop may vary from 50 to 500 trees per acre according to the 

 size and quality of material it is intended to produce. The balance 

 of the trees are, of course, accounted for in failure and thinnings, 

 the value of which may vary from nothing to nearly equal that of 

 those felled in the final crop. The following are the main items that 

 have to be taken into account in calculating costs : — 



1. Administration and supervision. 



2. Preparation of planting plan. 



3. Fencing. 



4. Preparation of ground. 



5. Transplants. 



6. Planting. 



T. Cultivation, 



8. Fire protection. 



9. Thinning. 

 10. Trnnsjjort. 



From the notes here appended each operator, with his knowledge 

 of local conditions, is best able to calculate costs of operations for 

 himself. 



1. Adininistratioii and Supervision. 



On the skill and economy of the management from start to finish 

 depends the ultimate success or failure of the whole scheme. The 

 operations dealt with in this paper are of the simplest known in 

 forestry. Yet unless the administration is guided by expert sylvi- 

 cultural knowledge and experience, there are many pitfalls for the 

 unwary, all of which tend to financial loss if not guarded against. 

 Given proper technical guidance, actual siipervision becomes a mere 

 question of common sense and energy. 



It goes without saying that under competent supervision the 

 larger the area dealt with, up to a point, the lower will be the cost 

 per acre under this head. It is also self-evident that economy of 

 administration and supervision is not so much a question of £. s. d. as 

 of its quality. 



2. Preparation of Planting Plan. 



Planting schemes are too often entered upon without a definitely 

 worked out plan. As a rule there is too much huriy to plant any- 

 thing anywhere as soon as the idea is first conceived in order not to 



