STATE FOREST SERVICE.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18263, 23 December 1924, Page 4

STATE FOREST SERVICE.

WORK IN CANTERBURY. A very successful tree-planting programme has been carried out by the State Forest Service in Canterbury and Otago during the past season, about 2191 \ acres on State afforestation areas having been covered with various species of exotic trees. For this purpose 1,583,365 trees, principally pines, were utilised, and in addition 378,000 were sent out from the distributing nurseries plantations in other regions, and 537,630 to local bodies and the general-public—a total output for the year of close on two and a-half million trees. The greater portion of the planting schedule was confined to the Hanmer Springs district. where 1512 acres were added to State Forests. To provide stocks for future planting, over 6401b of tree seed were sown during October and November, and reports to hand indicate that a good germination may be ex-pec-ted. Preliminary arrangements are also in hand for the establishment of 3500 acres in 1925 (2200 acres in the North Canterbury reserves, and 1300 in South and Central Otago), and the anticipated demand from farmers and local bodies is estimated at a million trees. An extension of afforestation activities is also being initiated by means of the Forestry in School scheme, and with tho promised co-operation of the Education Department and local School Committees, good results in this direction are confidently looked for.

A short-distance flying pigeon, probably from Lancashire, has found its w?tv to Calcutta, nearly 6000 miles direct or 8000 bv ocean route. A communication has' been received bv the general secreiarv or the National Union of Short-distance Fliers that a bird carrying the official ring iSDL24/10'?l is reported to be in possession of Mr 11. F. Hannon, 1 Fenwick Bazar street, Calcutta, India. How the bird got across to India is rroblematicil. It may have got out to sea and alighted, on "a steamer, or flown from steamer to steamer.