FOREST-TREE GROWING IN THE SOUTH ISLAND, NEW ZEALAND. I 75 



traced to the omission of the necessary final heel-firming, 

 without which no great success in any method will be realised." 



The following condensed remarks are of much interest as they 

 refer to trees with most of which Scottish foresters are already 

 familiar : — 



"The impossibility of explaining thoroughly in the limited 

 space available the planting-systems in vogue and ultimate 

 results anticipated will perhaps be apparent to readers. Touching 

 lightly on a subject of almost paramount importance in tree- 

 growing for profit has, too, a tendency to confuse rather than 

 educate one desirous of receiving a general idea of how the work 

 is being conducted. It is, however, desirable to make a few 

 abbreviated references to our present position, without dwelling 

 too freely on the more speculative future thinning, under-planting, 

 felling and timber utilisation. 



"By judicious blending of our practical knowledge of the 

 requirements of the country, extending over fifteen years, with 

 advanced Continental practices, it is not a very difficult matter 

 to determine appropriate modes of associating various trees in 

 plantations. 



"Adverse criticism on some of our earlier experimental labour 

 is occasionally uttered by persons who evidently fail to realise 

 that without such experiments a suitable general working basis 

 would never be arrived at. Much knowledge has been gained 

 regarding association of trees and afforestation work in the 

 various stages by private planters, who do not hesitate to diffuse 

 any information solicited by the departmental officers, and in 

 this way also help to lighten the experimental work. 



" No matter from what point of view the study of planting- 

 systems is taken, high-forest stands out pre-eminent in being 

 specially adapted here for the raising of timber of a desired 

 marketable size. This high-forest system, which may be arrived 

 at by a judicious mixture of varieties suitable for the existing 

 soil and climatic conditions, or by planting suitable light- 

 demanding varieties pure, and eventually introducing shade- 

 enduring species after thinning has been commenced, is now 

 being adhered to. In the first place, close planting is absolutely 

 necessary for ground-protection and the inducement of straight 

 branchless boles. Certain varieties exhibit greater tendencies to 

 produce strong lateral branches — such as Cupressus macrocarpa — 

 and naturally these varieties should be confined to an unusually 



