1909.] Afforestation of Catchment Areas. 



269 



An area of 156 acres was notch-planted with two-year seed- 

 lings of the same species, and the cost per acre, including 

 purchase of plants, was £2 1 is. The workmen employed on 

 this plantation were young men and boys trained in forest 

 work. 



Another area of 36 acres was notch-planted, and the turf 

 was skimmed off 14 in. square before notching to prevent the 

 grass from smothering the plants. Turfs were taken off by 

 contract at yd. per 100. The cost per acre was about £3 

 inclusive. 



A portion of high-lying moorland covering 186 acres was 

 planted with Spruce and Beech at a cost of £3 10s. per acre, 

 including fencing. 



These plantations vary in height from 550 ft. to 900 ft. 

 above sea-level, and are all exposed to strong winds. At the 

 commencement of the work the planting was done mostly 

 during the autumn and early spring, but from experience 

 gained on the ground it has been found that late spring plant- 

 ing gives much better results. During the first two years all 

 the plants were purchased, but they have to a large extent been 

 since replaced with plants from the Corporation nurseries. Of 

 the Beech that were purchased, very few are now alive. The 

 cost of filling vacancies in the first year's work with four-year- 

 old plants has been heavy compared with areas planted with 

 home-raised plants. Very few deaths occur in the plantations 

 made with plants from the home nurseries. 



V oles or shrews are doing great damage to the plantations, 

 and it is found that Beech and Sycamore suffer the most. A 

 great many of the plants are barked completely round, and 

 some are cut through. Rabbits are also troublesome on the 

 moor, but no attacks of insect pests have been experienced. 

 The total number of trees planted up to May 31st, 1908, was 

 1.540.535. 



Manchester. — The catchment area of the Manchester Cor- 

 poration W aterworks is situated at Thirlmere, in Cumber- 

 land, and covers about 1 1,000 acres, at elevations varying 

 from 500 — 3,000 ft. The Corporation have consulted Professor 

 Fisher, of Oxford University, who has drawn up a scheme for 

 systematic planting, and they have also engaged a competent 

 woodman to carry out the work. According to evidence given 



