a—lb

18

(if a clayey composition, as in operating the fumigator on sandy 01 gravelly soils the poisonous gas escapee, 01 else an insufficient amouni penetrates the boles to complete the asphyxiation of the rabbits. Absolutely the most effective mode of ridding any enclosures of the peel is to trap continually, and systematically dig oul burrows arid under-runners. An occasional " drive " by the full strength of the gang is often the means of cornering a number of hares, which are thus easily caughi by greyhounds or shot by aimed members of the hunting party. The enforcemeni of these stringent measures to extirpate such ground-game before the commencenlent of planting is occasionally referred to lightly by those unaware of the immense amouni of damage resulting Erom the presence of the pest. Although the ravages of both hares and rabbits are not at all restricted to any special period of the year, perhaps during frosty weather, or immediately following a fall of snow, when the young tree-tops become very conspicuous, the injury created is greatest. Tin' destructive animals appea] to lie more partial to larch and ash. and the various pines also rarely escape ihe injury of having their leaders bitten off: by the judicious cutting-back to ground-surface of such injured deciduous trees as ash. oak. and sycamore, and subsequent disbudding when the young shoots make their appearance, it i.- possible bo effect a remedy. Imt with larch or pines the result of such treatment is more problematical, and these varieties rarely respond in the manner desired to any such artificial measures. Although the amouni of damage occasioned by the entry of both tin , red and fallow deer into our southernmost plantations has not. so far, been extensive, there is not the slightest doubt l>lll that wholesale destruction to young trees would eventuate if the animals were allowed to remain in the enclosures lot any Length of time. Formation ok Fire-breaks. Perhaps fire-prevention is one of the most difficult problems attached to our afforestation-work. Notwithstanding our experience of one or two conflagrations of a mor< or less serious nature, any person sufficiently interested to fully examine the method adopted for guarding against the ingress or spread of fires will realize tin , immense amount of labour done in this direction. Continental ideas are freely introduced as far as the actual lire-break allocations are concerned, and our system cannot in justice be denounced because a conflagration originates amongst the trees through carelessness or mishap by perhaps a, visitor. Through the presence of rank fern and tussock lergrowth up t ertain stage, a, continual source of danger is apparent ; but with the advancement of trees a canopy is formed, and the eventuating shade soon kills out all undergrowth. The fern. tutu, and other vegetation is then rapidly converted into moisture-retaining bumus, and the risk of surface fires from this stage is considerably minimized. If the planting-ground possesses a fairly even surface, blocks of about 300 acres are intersected Iα Inclines from I to '2 chains in width, although in hilly country every effort is made to locate (he lire breaks on the leading ridges, so that equal advantage of combating any outbreak may be gained, no matter from which quartei the wind, is blowing. The formation of roads for vehicular traffic is also undertaken in the centre of fire-breaks, although where the gradient makes haulage impossible deviations are made to one side or the other. Another safeguard, and perhaps the most important, is the boundary fire-break, which is usually half a chain in width, and follows as nearly as possible tin , fence-line. Along Ihe interior of this outer break, or fringing the plantation, two or more rows of the partially lire resist ing English birch are planted, and by keeping the surface free from inflammable vegetation by ploughing or cultivating, any encroaching giass-lires may be easily suppressed before any damage is done. The internal firebreak course being decided upon, a heavy double-furrow plough drawn by live horses is then requisite d. and by gathering the furrows to the centre, and gradually working to the desired width, a serviceable road-crown is thus made, in addition to the preliminary labour connected with fire-barrier formation. Either ploughing, discing, cultivating, or harrowing fire-breaks is commenced towards the latter pan of spring, after the. transport of trees from nurseries is completed : this gives ample time to finish all horsework before the grass reaches the seed ing-stage. A constant vigilance Eor any out break of lire during the summer mont hs is maintain! d by the adopt ion of a, eyetem of patrol dut v, which is undertaken on holidays and Sundays by any one employee. The annual expense thus incurred is only trilling, but with such precaution a feeling of greater security exists amongst responsible officers of plantations. In conspicuous places lire-notices are erected, and serve to warn persons frequenting the locality of the danger associated with the lighting of fires and of the penalty enforced should any outbreak extend to the planted reserve. It may be interesting to mention that throughout the South Island plantations thirty-six miles of combined roads and fire-breaks, averaging 50ft. in width, arc cultivated annually, and the expenditure attached to this item alone reaches £138 per annum. When one considers that over 218 acres are actually ploughed and cultivated in this maintenance and formation labour, the amount per acre 12s. Bd. will appear to be a perfectly reasonable figure. There is. however, every reason to anticipate that in tin near future we shall not require to be burdened with this liie-bieak labour, as the conversion of our present internal lanes into giazing-areas, and judiciously stocking them with sheep, should bring about equally effective results. Clearing and Draining. Much importance must be attributed to the preliminary clearing-work, as the thorough removal of ma 11 ilka scrub, fern, tutu, dan thorn a gra.s,s. etc.. by cutting and burning not only facilitates pitting and planting operations, bill influences to some extent the amount ol subsequent maintenance work-. If