ANNUAL INCREMENT OF SPRUCE AND SCOTS PINE. 35 



Reference was made, in dealing with last year's results, to the 

 apparent effects of the unusual summer of 19 1 1. An examination 

 of the figures for 191 2 shows that on fairly good soils the growth 

 in the latter year has been on the whole better than in the drier 

 and warmer season of 191 1. Growth commenced early in 191 2, 

 the increment put on in May and June being considerable. 

 The late summer growth was poor, and had practically ceased 

 in August. 



The second table, summarising the estimated growing stock 

 and increment for three years, is now becoming of some practical 

 value. It will be noticed that in all the woods under observa- 

 tion (with one exception) the current annual increment is still 

 well above the mean annual increment. In other words, the 

 most profitable felling age has not as yet been nearly reached. 

 This, of course, is quite natural seeing that the oldest crop under 

 observation is forty-two years. The exception mentioned is the 

 Scots pine, Plantation I, where there is a close approximation 

 between the mean annual increment and the current annual in- 

 crement, probably due to want of proper canopy and other causes. 

 Generally speaking, coniferous timber in this country is likely to 

 yield the highest return at the age when the current and mean 

 annual increments coincide. After this point has been passed, 

 the increase in quality or price will not be sufficient to make up 

 for the loss of bulk. 



The results obtained over the three years' period are wonder- 

 fully consistent, as a detailed examination of the figures will show. 



The rainfall during the growing season of 191 2 was as 

 under : — 



