INSPECTOR OF FORESTS' REPORT.

Southland Times, Issue 1888, 1 April 1874, Page 3

INSPECTOR OF FORESTS' REPORT.

(TO THB EDITOB OP THE TtMES.)' I Sib,— ln last, Saturday's Times I notice a re- * - port by the Inspector of Forests, in which he makes some remarks likely to lead, persons prac*- ' "tically unacquainted with tKe subject astray, and ~as our legislators are generally in. : that iposition, I think it right to draw attention to' the matter. In the first place he speaks of turf fencog. Surely Mr M'Arthur or any practical bushrtian knows that it is simply impossible to cut sods in the bush, where there is- no such ■thing' as turf. •And ify the ditche* wero, cut^ the..mosa and vege•■'table maltter'thrawTi' out would, when dry., be the very best possible firo-conduofcor. •- •■ >•' - Next he treats of the young plants growiDg up through the crops of trees that have been felled. I think if lie t h4cj «(ijimitjed: thel jfeaid plants he would have found that the only. _y.ou.&g trees growing up, wjsre and thq bash, lawyer — both utterly useleW, as far ; as tirnbdr is' concerned. It is well known that the moko takes complete possession of all bus!? lane} wh^tl partially cleared, as witness all the 'old ? Maori gardens. . : . ... „r -. ■, ■ ' . . As regards the saplings "and young trees left standing by the sawmiller, they are hardly worth co'nsidor'ation, for if the trees cut ' down were at all numerous, as they generally are, all the Undergrowth is either destroyed by the falling tree, or cut down to clear tracks to get the logs out of the bush. . I I think it will be found cheaper — which is the test pf practicability nawadays—^to plant open, ■ land' with' forest trees of any'd'escription. Only the outer rows on the weather side of the plantation would suffarfrom want of shelter,' which could be provided for by planting either a quicker-growing or a hardier kind on that side: Trusting that the importance of the subject will be sufficient excuse for taking up so much of your valuable space, I am, &c, ;.■■:.-. Bushman. ' Birerton, March 30. '.