10 July, 1916.] Tree-planting Competition. 413 



TREE-PLANTING COMPETITION. 



In 1912, a tree-planting competition was arranged by authority of 

 the Cabinet, acting on proposals submitted by the Lands Department. 

 JFor the working out of the details of the scheme, a special committee 

 was constituted, comprising the horticultural representatives of the 

 Australasian, Leader, and Weekly Times papers, the Secretary for 

 Lands, the Conservator of Forests, and the Curator of the Botanic 

 Gardens. The State was divided into five large divisions, having regard 

 to physical and climatic conditions, and two further divisions — " small 

 holdings dry " and '' small holdings irrigated." 



For each of the first five divisions, the prizes oft'ered were — 1st, £60; 

 2nd, £25; 3rd, £15; and 1st, £25; 2nd, £15; and 3rd, £10, for each of 

 the two small holdings; a gold medal being awarded to every winner 

 of a first prize. Very wide publicity was given to the scheme, through 

 the generous help rendered by the entire press of the State, the full 

 details being published and given great prominence. The total number 

 of entries accepted was 111, being fewer than were expected, A very 

 complete list of trees suitalsle to the various divisions, and classified 

 accordin,g to their value for (a) shelter, sliade, and wind-breaks; 

 (&) timber supply; (c) ornamental and other pur])oses, was com])iled 

 by the Committee and freely circulated. The period over which the 

 competition extended was three years. 



At the end of the first year, all competitors were asked by circular 

 letter for a report, and it was then found that, as a result of the unfavor- 

 able season of 1912-13, a good many of the attempts had not given 

 satisfactory results, and a number of the competitors withdrew. The 

 withdrawals included all those who had entered for competition in 

 Division 1, '' Malice Country," and Division 5, " Hill Country." A 

 review of the Avork of the remaining growers — five divisions — has now 

 been completed by Mr. J. Cronin (Director of Botanic Gardens). His 

 report shows that a greater measure of success has attended the project 

 than is actually revealed ])y the prize plantations. Failure, in some 

 cases, inspired renewed effort, and a measure of experimentation. It is 

 considered by the Committee that valuable object-lessons are now 

 provided in tlie widely-distributed localities, and that tree-planting, as 

 an aid to settlement, will be encouraged thereby. There are evidences 

 throughout tlie State of increasing interest in this good work, to wliich 

 the ti-ee-])lanting competition has materially contributed, and it is being 

 fui-ther assisted by the Arbor Day celebrations. 



Mr. Cronin reports: — "As a result of my investigations, 1 ]»lace 

 flie competitors in tlie following order: — 



