THE HOME TIMBER TRADE OUTLOOK. 145 



the class of trees best suited by experiment to particular soils 

 and exposure, I may be pardoned if I refer briefly to what 

 I myself would consider it best to plant. 



Too little attention, in my opinion, has been given to a very 

 vital question relative to afforestation, namely, the rearing and 

 supply of forest plants. Apart from the fact, that in many cases 

 only a superficial knowledge is possessed as to the care and 

 selection of plants, still more unfortunate is the way plants are 

 sometimes dumped into unsuitable soil ; and, I think, it v/ould 

 be a feasible plan for the State to supply proprietors with trust 

 worthy plants from State nurseries at cost prices, and, in some 

 cases, if desired, a practical man could be sent from them to 

 advise as to soils, and to give practical instructions in planting 

 where it was required. I have, in my mind's eye, a case in point 

 where 1200 acres were planted indiscriminately, the result being 

 that half had to be cut down and burned, about fifteen years 

 ago, and the remainder, now thirty years old, is practically use- 

 less. On small estates with nurseries, I have occasionally been 

 struck by the haphazard manner in which planting was 

 conducted, little or no regard being given to soil or exposure. 

 In valuing woods, also, I have often felt that if due regard 

 had been paid to the planting of the trees adapted to the 

 particular soil, a far better result would have been attained 

 financially. 



The trees I would select for planting are the larch, Scots fir, 

 spruce and Douglas fir. The larch is one of the best trees 

 possible, and produces a wood of the finest quality for a 

 generality of purposes. It is extensively used in our mines, in 

 boatbuilding, fencing, and outside work generally. Scots fir is 

 admirably suited for building and for construction purposes, 

 sleepers, boxwood, staves, heading, etc. Spruce, which has been 

 considerably neglected by most of our foresters and proprietors, 

 can be grown equal to the best Baltic product. I am, however, 

 glad to say, that this fine timber is now being recognised at its 

 true value. In my opinion, spruce planted in suitable soil and 

 surroundings would give far better returns than any other wood 

 I know ; and, as an instance, I may state that there is an area of 

 this fine tree, not many miles from here, growing about 550 to the 

 acre, and sixty years of age. The value is ;^tio per acre as it 

 stands. Later on I propose to show you a few photographs of 

 this fine wood. With regard to Douglas fir, I must frankly 



