AFFORESTATION OF THE CAMPS CATCHINIENT AREA. 57 



principles. The objects of management are to produce the 

 greatest net income from wood and timber compatible with 

 fulfilling the other indirect objects of the scheme. No con- 

 sideration, therefore, for sporting interests or for amenity should 

 influence the Forest Policy. 



Generally speaking, the provisions of the working-plan will 

 hold good for a period of at least five years, after which time 

 they should be revised. 



Planting Plan. — The topographical features of the areas 

 determine in the main the provisions of the planting plan. 

 These features consist on each area of two main valleys, from 

 which numerous lateral valleys emanate. The complex of 

 valleys is in each case completely encircled by high ridges or 

 plateaux rising in some cases to 2000 feet. In the valleys 

 there is at present a considerable amount of erosion going on, 

 including the breaking away of peat, particularly towards the 

 head waters of the side streams. The immediate effect of this 

 will be to silt up the reservoir and to render the water supply 

 impure. In the course of a few years, by planting up these 

 valleys, this will be rectified, and a more constant supply of 

 water from springs will be assured. It is proposed, therefore, 

 to establish as quickly as possible a belt of forest on the lands 

 which are contiguous to the water both in the reservoir and in 

 the streams. 



The direct result of this will be to absorb a certain amount 

 of " wintering," but when the scheme has been established, 

 with the enclosing of each block of wintering ground there 

 will be a corresponding block of forest thrown open. This 

 ground will have a greater wintering value than formerly 

 because of the shelter afforded by the forest. Generally speak- 

 ing, the planting plan applies at present only to land below 

 the 1500-feet contour line. A considerable area of land at 

 higher elevations can thus be permanently reserved for grazing 

 and shooting. 



The markets and the locality determine largely the species of 

 trees employed for planting. These will comprise mainly spruce 

 (Norway and Sitka), larch (European and Japanese), and 

 Scots pine. The proposed arrangement of these species is as 

 follows: — Spruce (Norway), on the low flats; larch, on the 

 lower hill slopes and in the high side valleys ; spruce (Sitka), 

 on the upper slopes and on peaty areas ; Scots pine, on the most 



