C—3

14

Summary shoioing Area of Waiotapu Plantation (7,166-80 Acres in Trees). How occupied. Acres. Larch .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 3,310-85 Pines .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 3,663-50 Eucalypti .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 180-50 Birch . . . . .. .. . . ~ .. .. I I -95 Roads, tracks, and fire-breaks .. .. . . .. . . 312-30 Land unsuitable for planting, including swamps, creeks, horse-paddocks, 298-20 and residence reserves Total .. .. .. .. .. .. 7,777-30 Kaingaroa Plains Plantation. (Assistant-Forester, R. Macßae.) Trees to the number of 1,380,250 were planted during the year on a new area of 1,1.17 acres, thus bringing the total area under trees at this station to 2,259 acres. For replacing deaths in the previous year's planting 182,175 were used, but this does not represent the total failures, owing to the fact that there was an insufficient number of Corsican pine available to replace all deaths. These, however, will be replaced during the next planting season. Of the trees planted during the year, Pinus ponderosa has made the best growth,. Pinus ponderosa scopulorum has, on the other hand, made, very poor growth, although the death-rate in both kinds is very low-about 3 per- cent. The Douglas fir have on the whole done remarkably well, and although the failures amount to about 11 per cent., these occurred chiefly among the smaller-sized seedlings. The larger transplants have succeeded best. Considering the unfavourable weather-conditions during the summer months the growth made by all the trees is very satisfactory. Many of those planted two years ago are now showing up above the tussock and scrub, and from now on the progress will probably be rapid. An experiment was made of sowing seed of Eucalyptus Macarthuri in situ. Spots to the number of 36,000 were prepared at 8 ft. apart by turning over the sod and pulverizing the soil, and on each of these places a pinch of seed was sown. The germination was excellent, but owing to the drying effects of the sun and wind the seedlings, without exception, perished. The nursery which was established here for lining out seedling trees has proved most satisfactory. The plants become acclimatized before they are planted in their permanent positions, and in addition to this a great saving in cartage has been effected. It is intended to line out about two million small seedlings here next spring. For the coming planting season the prisoners have prepared 2,400,000 pits. Tho planting of these will be done with rock-pine and Corsican pine chiefly. Owing to the, large number of trees which have to be planted it is very necessary that the number of prisoners at the camp should be greatly increased. Failing this it will be necessary to establish a camp for free men at an early date. The average number of free men employed during the year was 4-41, and prisoners 19-23. Following is a record of rainfall and temperature for the year, also summary showing area of plantation and how occupied:—

Rainfall, Temperature, &c.

Summary showing Area of Kaingaroa Plantation (2,259-519 Acres in Trees). How occupied. Acres. Pines .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1,892-807 Pseudo-tsuga Douglasii . . . . . . . . .. .. 340-176 Chestnut and Larch mixture .. .. .. .. .. 26-536 Roads, tracks, and fire-breaks .. .. .. .. .. 290-198 Unplanted land .. .. .. .. .. .. 30,805-283 33,355-000

Month. Rainfall. Number of Days Rain fell. Temperature. Number of Days Frosts occurred. Maximum. Minimum. 1915. April May June July August September .. October November .. December .. In. 2-77 2-06 5-95 5-34 4-62 4-40 4-31 7-52 1-16 7 10 17 13 13 18 19 21 6 Deg. F. 73 64 59 62 63 68 76 78 82 Deg. F. 28 31 24 21 26 27 31 35 31 8 3 H 12 9 4 2 i 1916. 1-23 2-28 3-00 8 9 12 84 84 81 34 43 37 January February March " .. Totals 44-64 153 53