312 TREE I'LAXTING COMPETITIONS IN NATAL. 



It will thus lie seen that the position to-day is that at least 

 1,365 acres have lieen })lanted as a direct resul' of the tree-])lant- 

 ing competition. 



The first competition matured in 191 5. 



The Tree-planting- Committee decided to appoint a single 

 judge. The judging results of the first competition were briefly 

 as follows: 31 plots were entered, four competitors withdrew, 

 and the remaining ones did not wish all the plots to be judged 

 leaving in all 22 plots competing for prizes, namely : 



I in Section i. Total area 5 acres. 



9 in Section 2. Total area 46.5 acres. 



12 in Section 3. Total area 64.58 acres. 



22 116.08 acres. 



Of these, five were disqualified. First and second prizes 

 for sections 2 and 3 were awarded. For section i the only plan- 

 tation entered was disqualified. 



The net gain to the country in afforestation, which may be 

 attributed to the first tree-planting competition, is T16 acres, cost- 

 ing in prize money £1 Os. 8d. per acre. 



The choice of species as provided in the rules w^as left, with 

 the reservation in regard to wattles, to individual competitors. 

 The genera planted were : 



Eucalypts 54.4 acres. 



Pines 32.2 ,, 



Juniper 2.64 „ 



Cypress I7-I4 <> 



Casuarina 2. ,, 



Crevillea 5.5 ., 



Robinia 5.5 ,, 



Blackwood 1.2 



116.08 acres. 



The second competition has not been judged yet. 



The results obtained as shown from the report of the first 

 competition, and the numerous entries for the following years, 

 indicate that the tree-planting competition has been a success. 

 As will be observed from the statement of the entries, the far- 

 mers falling within the coastal section have not availed them- 

 selves of the opportunities offered. In the other sections the 

 entrants in the majority of cases have taken their work seriously. 

 One of the results of the competition has been to induce a live 

 interest in the commercial side of tree-planting, and the impor- 

 tance generally to the country of providing its own timber re- 

 quirements. 



It would seem clear that the amount of £1,000 granted by 

 the old Natal Government is earning magnificent interest in 

 results to practical forestry. 



■ As provided by the trust deed, lioth capital and interest are 



