403 
Since 1896, 76,757,658 trees, of an estimated value of £140,777, 
ave been raised in the nurseries, whilst 50,545,775 trees have been 
removed to permanent positions in plantations, shelter belts, and 
elsewhere. 
Tn each district sufficient labourers are kept for the regular work 
and extra ones are engaged for planting. In the neighbourhood of 
prison settlements prisoners are utilised for planting operations and 
or other work connected with the department. Their general work 
is reported on very favourably and they are said to take a great 
interest in the work. 
favour here. Rie 
Native trees are not planted to any extent. Kauri pine, Podo- 
carpus Totara, has been tried in some districts but has not Phe 
satisfactory results. The trees most largely eerie are Larix 
i ici i icea excelsa, 
excelsior, Fagus sylvatica, Alnus glutinosa, Betula alba, Acer 
Pseudo-platanus, Liquidambar styraciflua, Pinus muricata, P. 
insignis, &c., are also being planted in some places. The difficulty 
of obtaining good seeds of some kinds of trees has led to their being 
planted in limited quantities only, and if good seeds could be 
imported more easily much larger plantations would be made 
The rate of growth of the different trees appears to be very 
similar to that which obtains in England. In favoured localities 
some conifers add five feet to their height in a single year, whilst in 
others the average is about 14 feet. 
A great deal of attention has of necessity to be given to fire 
belts.” These are made from 1 to 14 chains wide, and are ig im 
over annually until the trees interlace so as to exclude sheep ~ 
the plantations when they are sown and pastured. gaa ion 
of rabbit fencing is as important in New Zealand as : _ ere, a“ : 
in some districts all young plantations have to be enclos Ze ™ 
netting. The average altitude of the plantations _ ae 
about 1,000 feet ; some, however, are but 300 feet above - , 
whilst others are as much as 1,900 feet. Winter frost ar hai 
little harm, but spring and early summer frosts sometimes cut lare 
and other early growing trees severely. 
