3D TRANSACTIONS OF ROVAL SCOTTISH ARI30KICULTURAL SOCIETV. 



8. The State Nurseries and Plantations of 

 New Zealand. 



The annual report for 1916 of the Forestry Branch of the 

 New Zealand Department of Lands and Survey contains, as 

 usual, a large amount of interesting information and a fine record 

 of useful work done. 



The number of trees raised during the year with which 

 the report deals is given as 9,122,000, all raised at the four 

 State nurseries of New Zealand. The number of trees sent 

 out to the various State plantations during the same period 

 was 5,485,450, while to outside places 410,050 plants were 

 consigned. In six plantations where planting land was still 

 available, a total area of 2677 acres was planted. 



The expenditure for the year was ;;^3o,4i5. The year-book 

 for 19 1 5 shows that the annual expenditure, as at 31st March 

 1915, averaged for nurseries ^9700, and for plantations 

 ;^i9,ooo. The same year-book shows that a total area of 24,563 

 acres had been planted in eleven plantations. This, together 

 with the 2677 acres mentioned above, gives a total of 27,240 

 acres planted to date. 



The State gives assistance to farmers who plant trees, and 

 the facilities offered are taken advantage of to a large extent. 

 The object which the State has in view in encouraging farmers 

 to plant trees is on account of the great value of shelter 

 plantations, and also on account of the increasing scarcity and 

 enhanced prices of fencing material and fire-wood. It is not 

 expected that the planting of trees for farm purposes will 

 add appreciably to the supply of building and other construc- 

 tional timber. The Department clearly realises that if the State 

 is not to be dependent on foreign countries, it must itself supply 

 the timber necessary for these purposes, aided possibly to some 

 extent by public bodies who may find it an advantage to grow 

 timber trees on water-catchment areas. 



The thinnings from the larch and pine plantations are already 

 finding a satisfactory market, but, owing to the as yet comparative 

 abundance of native timber suitable for mining props and 

 sleepers, and the easy terms on which these can be obtained 

 from State lands, the mining companies are generally disinclined 

 to take larch thinnings. The supply of suitable native timber 

 is, however, fast decreasing, and probably the day is not far 



