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APPENDIX \. REPORT ON TREE-GROWING OPERATIONS IX THE NORTH ISLAND. IfllO-U. [By the Superintending Nurseryman, Rotoraa:] Afforestation-work ai the North Island stations has been attended with much success, which is due in a great measure bo the Favourable weather experienced during the year. Although the rainfall was exceedingly l<>%v. if was Eairly well distributed over each month "I the year. One very dry spell was experienced during .January and the greater part of KVbruary. but practically no losses were occasioned thereby. The record of rainfall and temperature attached to the report on Rotorua Nursery may lie accepted as giving an indication of the weather experienced in this distrid generally. In tin' nurseries. 3,316,250 trees were raised during the year, making a total to date of 40,004,573. The output of trees from nurseries during the year amounted to l.i>2<>.'.>2l. and the number sent out to date is 30,586,807. Trees in nurseries at 31s1 March numbered 8,937,630. The difference between the sum of trees sent out and stock- in hand compared with the number raised is I8O.13(>. which represents deaths in trees grown at Ruatanuata Nursery. 26,100 trees totara, destroyed when the nursery was closed, and to n very large extent an overestimation of stock at that nursery for some years. CODNTING THE TREES. It will be readily understood that for stock-taking purposes the only method of arriving at the number of trees in a, nursery is by counting portions, and averaging the whole on the counts obtained. The numbers given in the schedules of trees in stock must therefore lie underst I as being approximate only. When sending trees out from the nursery they are counted into bundles, each containing twenty-live trees, so that the numbers given as being sent out may be relied upon aa being accurate. It has been customary to show in the summaries and elsewhere the number of trees raised in each nursery from the time of its inception, and the best method by which this can be arrived at is by adding the total of trees sent out to the estimated number in Ihe nursery. As ;i consequence, it Follows that it is impossible to have a.n uninterrupted succession of figures balancing year after year. Another question which has a, close bearing upon this subject is the counting of deaths amongst the nursery stock. This is even more impossible than counting the whole stock. A 2-per-cent. death rate in s l-bcds containing 5,000,000 trees would, mean the loss of 100,000 trees, yet such a loss, if evenly distributed over the beds, would not be noticed unless each of the deaths occurred at the same time. When stock-taking it has been usual to allow a. margin for probable overestimation and losses. The total of seed-beds arrived at by averaging is reduced by one-third, and tin 1 lined-out trees by onetilth, ami this method lias been proved to give a reasonably accurate count of the. stock. Prison- Lahour. The work performed by the prison labour it the Whakarewa.ivwa. and Wa.iotapu Prison Camps during the year is valued at £3,347 7s. Id., which shows an average of £98 15s. sd. for each of the 33-89 prisoners employed. In placing a value upon the work done by prisoners, the cost of similar workperformed by free labour is taken as a basis ; thus, pitting is valued at 7s. (id. per thousand, and this work" by free labour during the year cost 9s. I Jd. per thousand. Planting is also valued a! 7s. (id. per thousand, and Ihe cost of this by free labour «as 7s. 3d. Much depends upnii 1 In' class of land on which the work is done, and the cost by free labour varies accordingly. The rates of values a--, given above lor prison labour is therefore considered fairly average ones. Details of the work performed by prisoners during the year and since prison labour was first employed is here given : — Wha.kaivwarewa Plantation Average daily number of prisoners employed during year. 10*44. Average daily number of prisoners employed since camp started. 11 ■•">•>. Value durimj Vaiuo mc I lamp Sear, 1910 11. <l. 1904 to 191 I. I B. .1. V. s. (I. Clearing land for tree-planting .. .. 258 In 0 1.287 I 8 Pitting .. .. .. .. .. inn II :; tBl 11 6 Tree-planting .. .. .. 47 2 () 1,273 I 5 Roadmaking .. .. .. .. .. 642 11 9 Fencing .. .. .. .. .. 7 13 0 Buildings, new erections and alterations to .. .. 205 16 o Formation of lire-breaks. Bus. .. .. 75 I!) 5 :>)2 5 || General upkeep of plantation .. .. 131 15 0 1.010 || :; General repairs .. .. .. .. 11 i I :'. 306 13 11 Miscellaneous works .. .. .. 2:; 11 I ill :( 5 Tn+ela c<ir- /. •; PS fiS7 IK 111

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