AUSTRALIAN PLANTATIONS. 185 



Additional Remarks on their Progress. 



Kuntjk, lUh December 1859, No. 877. 

 I have the honour, in continuation of my letter, 10th April 

 1858, in E. M. C, 3d June 1858, E. D., to submit a further 

 report on the Government plantation of Australian trees, in the 

 neighbourhood of Wellington, originated by Capt. Campbell. 



2. Object. — The object of this plantation is to meet the very 

 extensive requirements of the large cantonment at that place. 



3. Site. — The site originally selected comprised about 600 acres, 

 ranging from three to four miles from Wellington, in an easterly 

 direction. Last year, in communication with the acting collector, 

 Mr Cherry, and at the suggestion of Capt. Campbell, the more 

 distant portion was exchanged with the Badagafs for a larger ex- 

 tent, running from the lower extremity of the original site towards 

 Wellington. The land thus gained is of finer quality, is situated 

 between two good roads to Kunur and Wellington, and brings 

 the lower extremity of the plantation within a mile of the latter 

 cantonment. The advantages which will thus be gained in 

 saving carriage and obtaining manure renders this a very valuable 

 acquisition. 



4. Area planted. — In my report quoted in par. 1, the area 

 planted was given at about 8 acres, in April 1858. Since then, 

 above 90 acres have been planted, and the total number of trees 

 may now be set down at 2 lacs, ranging from three years to 

 two months old. About 8000 more will be put out in the course 

 of this month, which closes the regular planting season. 



5. Nurseries— -The nursery beds, three in number, are in good 

 order, and contain an ample supply for the probable requirements 

 of next season. 



6. System pursued. — The only alterations in the system pur- 

 sued are, that the trees are planted at 6 feet, instead of (as origi- 

 nally) 3 or 4 feet apart, and that watering has been dispensed with. 

 The greater space now allowed for the trees has proved mani- 

 festly advantageous ; and though, from not watering the plants, 

 we lose a few here and there, the saving of expense more than 

 compensates for this, as care is taken to plant only during the 



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