208 The N.Z. Journal of Science and Technology. [July 
have been compared with those of an Oregon pine of 7 ft. diameter and 
an age of 515 years, as well as with the growth of silver-fir in the Black 
Forest:— 
Age. 
Diameter, in Inches. 
Totara. 
Oregon Pine. 
Silver-fir. 
25 years 
2-1 
10-9 
2-0 
50 „ 
5-3 
14-3 
5-6 
75 „ 
8-9 
18-4 
10-7 
100 „ 
13-7 
23-0 
16-2 
125 „ 
20-0 
26-1 
18-7 
150 „ 
29-5 
29-5 
21-0 
200 „ 
46-3 
36-6 
• • 
250 „ 
72-6 
47-6 
Comparing first totara with silver-fir grown in regular woods, it will 
be found that there is not much difference in the diameter-growth up to 
the age of 125 years ; after that time totara grows even faster than silver- 
fir. The latter, grown on suitable soil in the Black Forest, produces woods 
which yield the following quantities of timber per acre, in superficial feet:— 
Age. 
Thinnings. 
Final Yield. 
Total. 
75 years 
19,000 
76.000 
95,000 
100 „ 
45.000 
117,000 
162.000 
125 „ 
59.000 
135,000 
194,000 
150 „ 
66.000 
150.000 
216,000 
These are the results obtained by the application of proper sylviculture 
and systematic treatment. 
Comparing totara with Oregon pine, it will be seen that the latter grows 
very much faster than totara up to an age of 125 years ; but at 150 years 
totara has caught up the Oregon pine, with a diameter of 29-5 in. in each 
case. After that age totara actually grows faster than Oregon pine as 
far as diameter-increment is concerned. The opinion expressed by the 
Commissioners that “ the timber-trees of New Zealand are of much slower 
growth than those grown in forestry operations the world over ” can 
hardly stand. 
The data for totara and Oregon pine are taken from one tree each only, 
and they are, of course, of a fragmentary nature. Still, they bring out 
the fact that slow growth in youth does not prevent the production of a 
large quantity of timber, and that trees growing very fast at first frequently 
slacken off later on, and vice versa . The former species are, of course, 
preferable when the object is to produce large quantities of comparatively 
soft wood in the shortest possible time, such as is used for paper-pulp, 
butter-boxes, and the like ; but when a high quality of timber for con¬ 
struction and similar purposes is required hasty growth in youth will,, 
in the majority of cases, not answer. It must be understood that the 
Oregon-pine timber delivered in New Zealand comes from trees at leash 
