a—lb.

Schedule 5. —Trees transferred from Hanmer Springs Nursery to Plantation, 1909-10.

Hanmeh Springs Plantation. (Area, 2,568 acres; altitude, 1,225 ft.) The past season has been one of the most successful oil record at this station, the death-rate among trees being very low, and chiefly confined to a block of larch, which was planted rather late in the season. Tree-growth throughout the plantation has been exceptionally good, and much above the average of previous years. The total number of trees planted during the year was 1,040,455, including 121,629 used to replace blanks. The area planted was 337J acres, bringing the total under trees to 1,213J acres, containing 3,350,056 trees. Free Labour. —The average number of men employed on day-labour was 326, and on contract work 633. Pitting cost 15s. per thousand, and tree-planting 10s. per thousand by contract and 12s. Bd. per thousand by day-labour. About twelve miles of fire-breaks were ploughed and cultivated, and some of this work « is carried out in almost inaccessible places. Two fire-breaks, each a chain wide and a mile in length, were also laid out on the newly acquired area, the remaining portion of the old block, consisting of about 70 acres, was cleared of scrub and pitted in readiness for planting. The work of pitting was commenced on the extension area, and good headway has been made. A total of 543,050 pits were dug, and 77,750 trees planted after the area had been cleared of scrub. Cleaning around young trees was carried on where necessary, and general pruning pushed on throughout the plantation. Replanting of failures also engaged attention, and the coming season should see this work completed on the old area. Larch of all ages have again made rapid growth, and trees established have put on a vertical growth of from 18 in. to 50 in. Pines of all varieties continue to do well, ami have made excellent progress. The average growth of trees planted during the year is about 4 in., and that of established trees about 20 in. The number of pits available for tree-planting is 251,000. Some damage was dune to young trees by rabbits and hares, but these pests are now under control, very few being inside the fenced areas. Ploughing of fire-breaks was again successful, no damage being done by fire. Prison Labour. —Details and values of work done by prisoners are as follows: Average daily number employed at forestry work, 135; pitting for tree-planting, 260,201 pits; £195 35.; tree-planting, 841,076, £532 13s. 6d.; formation, £14 4s. 9d.; clearing for tree-planting, £61 6s. 6d.; general maintenance work, £9 18s. lid.; horse-feed, £2 25.; fencing, £1 12s. 6d. Total value of work done, £817 Is. 2d. Details of expenditure for the year and to date are appended.

Statement of Expenditure. £ s d Amount at 31st March, 1909 ... ... ... ...5,684 1 6 Pitting ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 406 511 Tree-planting ... ... ... ... ... ... '49 4 8 Clearing ... ... ... ... ... ... 112 4 0 Cartage of trees ... ... ... •. ... ... 22 6 6 General upkeep of plantation ... ... ... ... 262 0 1 Horse-feed purchased and grown ... ... ... ... 45 11 0 Tools, implements, Ac. ... ... ... ... ... 40 0 3 Miscellaneous works ... ... ... ... 11 12 0 Salaries— Supervision of prison labour ... ... ... ... 118 10 8 „ free labour ... ... ... ... 59 5 4 Nurseryman's, proportion of ... ... ... ... 70 0 0 Supervision ... ... ... ... ... ... 25 0 0 £6,906 1 11 A. J. Boydem,, Plantation Foreman. W. G. Morrison, Nurseryman in Charge.

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Name of Tree. Number. He |f ht I Value per Inohes. j Thousand. Total Value. Kemarks. jarix europcua 'inus Larioio „ ponderosa 'seudotsuga taxifolia ietula alba .Inus glutinosa .. !oli 8 ia < • 691,375 268,280 53,200 12,675 8,500 6,425 .. 1,040,455 £ s. d. 16 3 0 0 12 3 0 0 13 3 0 0 10 3 5 0 36 3 0 0 18 3 0 0 £ s. d. I 2,074 2 6 I 804 16 9 159 12 0 41 3 10 25 10 0 19 5 6 3,124 10 7 ' These trees have all done well. ) Totals • W. G Mok: Nur RISON, seryman in Charge.