118 KATURAL REGENERATION, 
plans,’’ and I have often seen marvellous results produced by it—the 
seed prodigality of nature turned to account. Without 1t the layer of 
eround vegetation, moss, raw humus, and dense shade on the forest-floor 
may stop all seed-germination under old trees for centuries. Then at 
last the old tree crashes to the ground, and the bar to natural regenera- 
tion that has existed for so long is liftted—perhaps just long enough to 
produce a dozen seedlings! 
‘‘ Wounding the soil ’’ is done as a matter of course whenever timber 
is worked—hauling logs and the tramping of animals and men. Hence 
much of the utility in the successive ‘‘ regeneration fellings °* of scientific 
forestry. 
I have practised ‘‘ wounding the soil’’ in the New Zealand class of 
forest in Africa. It was successful as long as we were able to hit off 
trees bearing seed well, before the cleaned and broken ground got grown 
over. It has the best chance of success where there are well-marked 
seasons, with the trees shedding their seed in autumn and little regrowth 
of the ground vegetation till spring. 
‘<Gum-diggers’? as Helpers.—The Austrians who now do the 
greater part of the ‘“‘ gum-digging’’ appear to be a fine body of 
men — Dalmatian peasants, hardy, frugal, and industrious. They 
have, as regards the forests, been charged with lawlessness, but 
people can hardly be called lawless in a country where there are no 
adequate forest laws, and where there are scarcely any Forest Rangers 
to look after the forest. It is easy to see that as soon as the forest is 
organized these men may render most- valuable service. Their business 
is to turn the ground over in search of Kauri ‘‘ gum’; the business of 
the Forest Department is to get it turned over by hand, so as to favour 
natural regeneration and lessen the cost of artificial regeneration. The 
Waipoua Forest at one time was full of ‘‘ gum-diggers.’’ They had to 
be turned out when the torest was closed for preservation. As soon as 
the forest is opened for working, developed with roads, and in charge 
of an adequate protective staff, the ‘‘ gum-diggers’’ will be welcomed. 
There is an unknown value of Kauri resin in the ground; the diggers 
would pay current rates to the Forest Department for working it, and 
all the ground they turned over would be utilized for forest regeneration. 
Some useful work might also be obtained from the ‘‘ gum-diggers ”’ 
as forest cultivators.* It would enlist the well-disposed in the police 
work of the forest, and get a little costless planting done where it might 
eventually be very useful, such as with self-spreading good timber-trees. 
(3.) Fire as an Aid to Natural Regeneration. 
__In forests where there is a dense undergrowth fire is a most important 
aid to natural regeneration. It brings up the dormant seed in the 
ground, and it gives the forester his chance for easy planting or ‘‘ wound- 
. . %? - . . . . 7 nm 
ing the soil.’’ I am inclined to think that in the future Management of 
the Kauri forests fire (of course, under control) will play a large part in 
restocking the forest. ; 




* © Forest cultivators * are men who, under temporary permits from the Forest 
Department, are given temporary homes in ghe forest. They burn off patches of worth- 
less bush and raise crops, planting trees in the ash-fertilized ground. As the fertility of 
the soil declines and the planted trees grow up they pass on to fresh ground. They are 
given other forest privileges, and act as local helps to the Ranger in charge Forest 
cultivators often do very useful work. The bad ones quit at short notice. tikt ‘* om- 
. * 35 ’ * * * QS 
digging,” the position is sometimes a refuge for alcoholics and sometimes for those who 
are merely nomads. 
