346 The N.Z. Journal of Science and Technology. [July 
of carrying more than one sheep to ten acres. Without going into precise 
details, the general ecological conditions of the area are as follows : — 
(a.) The soil, though varying greatly in character, is admirably suited for 
the growth of trees, as evidenced, in the first place, by the excellent artificial 
plantations of the plain and the slopes adjacent, and, in the second place, by 
the existence at one time of the indigenous forest areas already mentioned. 
(b.) There are many gullies and slopes with a southern aspect where a 
climate exists quite distinct with regard to evaporation from that which 
favours tussock or grassland, but akin to the forest climate of the west. The 
' present southern-beech forest ascends to an altitude of 4,000 ft., more or less. 
At its upper altitudinal limit for a few chains the trees are much stunted, but 
below this line the trees are of fair size. Many exotic species are much more 
' tolerant of high altitudes, and the stunting action of the subalpine conditions 
would be much reduced for such trees. Compare, for instance, the altitude 
at which larch forests exist in the European Alps (7,000 ft.) and that at 
which the New Zealand subalpine forest gives out (4,000 ft.). 
(c.) In regard to climate generally, the rainfall is ample for the successful 
growth of trees. With increase of altitude the rainfall increases consider¬ 
ably. There is no cold comparable with that of central Europe, temperate 
Asia, or northern and eastern North America, whence come many trees 
used in New Zealand afforestation. It is, in fact, the equable climate of 
New Zealand, even in the mountain areas, which allows the growth of exotic 
trees to exceed so greatly their annual growth in their native lands. As 
for snow; the past winter has been a splendid object-lesson. Notwith¬ 
standing a fall of 4 ft. 6 in. on the Hanmer Plains, the damage to the 
plantations was not worth mentioning. At high altitudes it is only an 
occasional snow avalanche which can damage the forest. The north-west 
wind is certainly very severe. All the same, the natural spread of trees 
now taking place shows that its ecological effect with regard to stunting 
forest and causing excessive transpiration is of no moment whatever. On 
the other hand, as already pointed out, this wind favours seed-distribution 
to an extraordinary degree. 
The following notes with regard to the climate of the Hanmer Plains 
are of interest, and apply equally to that great area of high country 
stretching from the Spenser Ranges southwards and forming the lower 
slopes and foothills of the great Southern Alps, an area which would be 
admirably adapted for afforestation on the lines put forward in this paper. 
Rainfall and Temperature, etc., of the Hanmer Plains. 
Year. 
Rainfall. 
Number of 
Days 
Rain fell. 
Temperature. 
Number of 
Days Frost 
occurred. 
Max. 
Min. 
1905 .. 
Inches. 
62-18 
164 
Degrees. 
91 
Degrees. 
13 
1906 . . 
34-71 
117 
94 
18 
1907 .. 
48-44 
116 
98 
18 
1808 .. 
44-77 
151 
83 
17 
1909 . . 
43-74 
139 
90 
20 
1911 .. 
51-38 
131 
94 
17 
61 
1912 . . 
50-73 
139 
90 
15 
89 
1913 . . 
45-82 
128 
88 
19 
81 
1914 . . 
37-96 
132 
91 
20 
106 
1916 . . 
42-87 
109 
90 
16 
133 
1917 . . 
59-17 
139 
89 
17 
120 
1918 .. 
43-94 
117 
97 
8 
159 
