The Evening Star FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 1872.

Evening Star, Issue 2920, 28 June 1872, Page 2

The Evening Star FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 1872.

The annual meeting of the Acclimatisation Society passed off without exciting much apparent interest even amongst its own subscribers. This is explicable partly because some of the warmest supporters of acclimatisation live in, the country districts, and partly because many are very willing to contribute to the objects contemplated by the Society, but are unable to give help in the matter through not being familiar with the habits of the animals proposed to be imported, nor of the adaptation of the country to their support. On glancing over the report, every one must bo struck with the

benefit that has been conferred upon Otago by the Society. The farmer and gardener will now have the help of insectivorous birds against those insect pests that do so much damage to crops ; and in the course of a few years, if only the people will wait, partridges and pheasants will be amongst the recognised delicacies of the table. It is a singular feature in New Zealand that its plains and mounted sides have waited, tenantless, the choice of the colonists as to what animals shall occupy them. Like Australia, in a few years we have no doubt there will be thousands of cattle, horses, and sheep running wild. In Otago, in many places there are wild pigs in abundance already. The Acclimatisation Society has added deer of various sorts, and the more questionable blessing of hares, which it will be seen have in some districts multiplied amazingly. In the absence of the fox or other checks on the rapid increase, of hares and rabbits, it becomes questionable whether their introduction has been hurtful or beneficial. Most probably the antidote will be found in some of our dogs going back to a state of nature, and supporting themselves by their own efforts. But however doubtful the advisability of introducing the hare—for the rabbit the society is not responsible—the rest of their importations admit of no question. The pursuit and capture of the descendants of the imported animals will offer inducements to healthy and invigorating effort, and render New Zealand attractive both to tourists and to residents. Otago is equally indebted to the Society for the introduction of trout into its rivers. The acclimatisation of trout has been an undoubted success. The fish have grown to large size, and a very rapid increase in numbers seems certain. These additions to the fauna of New Zealand are contributions to increase of wealth. Although at present they are mainly objects of interest on account of their rarity, in a few years they will become articles of food, and should the salmon ultimately be added to our New Zealand fish, may become means of extending largely our industries and commerce. The Society has now turned attention to another and most important object, the acclimatisation of trees and plants. For the prosecution of this branch of its operations there is wide scope, Otago is very sparsely timbered, and it has proved a serious drawback to the prosecution of its mining industry. Yet its soil and climate are admirably adapted for the cultivation of a vast variety of valuable woods and even fruit trees. No doubt there are gardens in which the walnut, chesnut, and beech, are to found, or the more humble hazel-nut; but they are by no means common ; nor have we seen the British elm or oak excepting as rarities. The planting of forests has not yet begun to be looked upon as a social or national duty. We have not yet reached that scientific stage of forethought as a community that points to the necessity for reproduction as well as waste. In Germany, in favorable positions, the forests cover one-third of the country : yet the Germans may be said to be the only people who systematically give attention to forest culture. Timber is an important item in their national revenue. “Thousands of logs,” says Dr. Yeats, “float down the Rhine, formed into rafts, out of which in the course of transit a floating village is built, with laborers, their families, and appurtenances, for shelter and food.” In the Colonies there has been clearing, but no planting, just as in the cultivation of cereals, crop after crop is taken off the ground, but nothing given back to renew its fertility. The Acclimatisation Society has done much. It has shewn what important results may be obtained by a judicious outlay of a small sum of money. There is every reason to believe that its efforts have been sympathised with by the population of Otago, who, with few exceptions, have shewn most laudable forbearance in regard to the birds and animals introduced. If through the agency of the Society the influence of forests upon climate, the adaptation of climatic zones to the growth of certain trees, and the best conditions to their cultivation could be imparted —if in fact the advisability of adopting a national system as the best system to be adopted could be shewn, much as they have done for the Province, a greater boon would be conferred. As an idea worth considering, might not many of our educational reserves be much improved in prospective value, by planting the fitting parts with forest trees 1