206 
The N.Z. Journal of Science and Technology. 
[July 
The Commissioners’ Recommendations. 
The recommendations of the Commissioners are as follows :— 
Organization. — (a.) The control of the Forestry Branch of the Lands Department 
should be placed in the hands of an executive officer of approved financial and 
administrative ability. 
( b .) The executive officer should -have associated with him an Advisory Board 
of experts in forestry and matters appertaining thereto. 
(c.) Such Board should consist of not less than four members, to be paid such fees 
as may be prescribed. 
( d .) The Board should be called together not less than once a quarter for the 
consideration of matters of policy and important details with regard to the State 
forestry operations. 
(e.) The Superintending Nurserymen should, under the direction of the Forestry 
Board, control the operations in the North and South Islands respectively. 
The Indigenous Species of Trees. —There is, the Commissioners state, a general 
belief throughout New Zealand that the planting of certain indigenous trees, especially 
of totara and puriri, would be commercially profitable, and that they have been urged 
to recommend the planting of some of these species. The Commissioners consider the 
idea altogether erroneous. Without exception, they say, these timber-trees are of much 
slower growth than those used in forestry operations the world over ; the comparatively 
slow growth of the trees places the forests of New Zealand in a different category from 
those of Europe and America. 
Trees recommended for Planting. —The Commissioners recommend that the following 
.species shall be planted in future :— 
(1.) Monterey pine ( Pinus radiata). 
(2.) Corsican pine (P. Laricio var. Corsicana ). 
(3.) Heavy pine (P. ponderosa). 
(4.) Oregon pine ( Pseudo-tsuga Douglasii). 
(5.) Poplars, various species. 
(6.) Australian gums, those best suited to the selected localities. 
(7.) Ash ( Fraxinus excelsior) where suitable. 
They further recommend for consideration :— , 
(8.) Weymouth pine ( Pinus strobus) for fine-grained timber. 
(9.) The Himalayan blue-pine (P. excelsa) for trial. 
For planting on sand-dunes the Commissioners recommend the Austrian pine 
(P. Laricio var. austriaca), Monterey pine, and the Australian blackwood ( Acacia 
melanoxylon). 
The following explanatory remarks are added : Monterey pine has been widely 
planted in New Zealand. It thrives in every variety of soil, and its rapidity of growth 
is remarkable. If planted close it develops long clean timber, giving boards and 
scantlings used for farm buildings, and even for dwellings. Apart from that, it is 
eminently useful for box purposes for the rapidly developing dairy and fruit industries, 
as well as for soap and candle boxes. No other trees tried can be grown so cheaply, 
or planted so easily. It is believed that Monterey pine will yield timber for boxes at 
the age of twenty years. 
Corsican pine thrives very well in almost any soil and situation. Its timber, when 
matured and seasoned, is said to be resinous, elastic, tough, and durable, but somewhat 
coarse in texture, though easily worked. It is said to be immune from attacks by an 
aphis from which the Austrian pine suffers much. 
Australian blackwood grows rapidly on the driest sandhills, but it is not hardy on 
every locality. Experiments gave the strength of the timber equal to that of eucalypts 
of middling strength, and surpassing that of kauri. It is used for furniture of the highest 
class and for ornamental woodwork indoors. 
The Provenance of Seed. —The Commissioners consider it of great importance to 
obtain the best seed possible, and they therefore recommend— 
(a.) Whenever possible, seed from selected pedigree trees should be collected in 
New Zealand by the Department of Forestry. 
(6.) Seed, if not procurable from trees growing in the Dominion, should be obtained 
from the best available foreign source. 
(c.) Seed should be obtained at an early date, irrespective of the vote of 
Parliament. 
(d.) If the required quantity of seed of best quality is not obtainable in any year, 
it will be better not to sow at all than to sow substitutes of a less valuable 
character. 
