NATURAL REGENERATION. 123 
‘That method of conservative lumbering in which reproduction is secured 
from self-sown seed by means of successive cuttings made throughout the 
mature stand, thus leading to the production of a new stand of timber 
approximately even-aged. These successive cuttings encourage seed- 
production, create conditions favourable to the growth of seedlings, and 
gradually remove the remaining trees of the mature stand as the young 
growth develops.”’ (*‘ Terms in Vorestry,’’? Bulletin No. 61 of the Forest 
Service, p. 23, Washington, 1905.) 
To obtain a general idea of the subject, I give three sketches here of 
natural regeneration—(1) in the Chir forests of northern India, nearly 
the latitude and climate of New Zealand; (2) in Europe; (3) in South 
Africa, with forest similar to that of the Kauri forests. | 
Himalayas.—A recent publication, ‘‘ Indian Forest Memoirs,’’ is a 
work of merit, entitling it to be widely read in New Zealand. The 
author, R. Troup, is a forester of repute. Chir (Pinus longifolia) has 
been very successfully planted in South Afriea, but only on a small seale. 
It withstands bush-fires, 
For the natural regeneration of Chir growing in its great forests on 
the lower Himalayan slopes, in a climate similar to Waipoua, Mr. Troup 
has formulated these four natural-regeneration rules summarizing the 
experience of Indian forest officers during the last forty years :— 
(1.) In felling-areas leave five to eight trees per acre of large trees 
with well-developed round crowns. If the available trees are 
smaller leave more. 
(2.) Thinly scattered small trees and poles should be felled in order 
that their place may be taken by denser regeneration growth. 
(3.) Well-stocked groups of small poles should be left to form part 
| of the regrowth forest. They should be freed from overhead 
covert, 
(4.) Inferior species, and unsound or badly grown trees of the superior 
species, should be marked for removal. 

To these four seed-felling rules for Longifolia-pine might be added, 
for the Kauri forest : Where it is desired to get rid of the inferior species, 
fell in summer at the driest time of the vear; where the reshooting of 
good species is wanted, fell in winter. 
Fuwrope.—The late Captain Campbell-Walker, known for his report 
on New Zealand forestry, in a previous report by him on European 
forests (Parliamentary Library, Wellington), comments on the success 
of natural regeneration in France. It has been practised there for many 
years, and results, at all ages, may now be seen. Natural regeneration, 
he says, has succeeded better in France than in Germany, and he ascribes 
this greater success to the damper climate of France, all of which is in 
favour of natural regeneration (as understood by foresters) in New 
Zealand. 
In Europe, in the latitudes of New Zealand, the regeneration 1s 
generally natural, with the notable exceptions that Scotch-pine is planted 
and the fine Spruce forests of Saxony still have mostly artificial regenera- 
tion. In Saxony it is quicker than natural regeneration, and some years 
back could be done for £1 per acre. Labour was then one-fourth the 
present price in New Zealand, and the peasants paid about £1 an acre 
for the right to cut the grass in planted areas; so that in practice the 
replanting cost next to nothing! ; 
Recent statistics show that in Baden, which may be typical of the 
South Island of New Zealand, less than 1 per cent. of the total forest 
area is artificial regeneration (see ‘‘ Statistics,’’ Appendix, Part IL), 
