FOREST -TREE GROWING IN THE SOUTH ISLAND, NEW ZEALAND. I 65 



27. Forest-Tree Growing in the South Island, 

 New Zealand. 



By R. G. Robinson, Superintending Nurseryman, South Island. 



The above report is an extremely interesting one. It deals in 

 a practical way with matters relating to afforestation on a large 

 scale, and shows in a convincing manner that the problems of 

 afforestation are being tackled with energy and resource in the 

 South Island of New Zealand. 



In explaining the purpose for which the report was written, 

 the author in his introductory remarks says : 



" The afforestation work conducted by the State in the 

 Dominion has, since its initiation, received the whole-hearted 

 support of many enthusiastic tree-growers ; but with each 

 succeeding year the increasing prominence of our young artificial 

 forests has attracted the attention of the general public, who, on 

 becoming enlightened regarding the annual progress made, 

 not infrequently express their surprise at the magnitude of the 

 undertaking. 



" As might be expected, the presence of flourishing plantations 

 of timber trees in the various districts throughout the Otago and 

 Canterbury Provinces stimulates the desires of farmers and 

 others to produce similar results, and officers of the Department 

 are frequently called upon to supply such information as will 

 materially assist intending tree-planters. 



" Although certain rules for general guidance have been main- 

 tained since the inauguration of the Forestry Branch, it has only 

 been through a sustained series of experiments, together with the 

 introduction of new practical ideas from various sources, that the 

 present measure of success has been attained. 



"This condensed article on tree-raising methods adopted in 

 the South Island nurseries and associated plantations is prepared 

 with the object of conveying to readers information which recent 

 correspondence and personal inquiries show is mostly solicited, 



" By the actual observance of the various works in progress, 

 however, more productive knowledge is gained than from any 

 literary source, and departmental officers are ever ready to give 

 a practical demonstration to those contemplating tree-planting. 



"Whilst the effect of desired brevity and compulsory omission 

 of much detail will be apparent throughout this paper, its object 



