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compound interest over a rotation of, say, sixty years, a heavy charge upon the plantation (10d. per annum at 4J per cent, amounts in sixty years to £12). If this system is adopted it would be necessary to purchase sheep because of the difficulty in letting the grazing rights at a season of the year when grass is plentiful, and when it would be dangerous to allow the fire-breaks to become overgrown. An incipient fire may be easily suppressed by one man, whereas with a delay of half an hour there may develop a conflagration against which an army of men are helpless. It is absolutely necessary that fires should be dealt with promptly, and to carry this into effect a responsible officer must, during dry weather, always be on the lookout for outbreaks. A few workmen should live upon the reserve sd that no delay will occur in getting help should fire start on a Sunday or a holiday. There should also be means of getting the men quickly to the scene of the fire, and a supply of fire-fighting tools should always be kept handy. It is advisable that all workmen' when fire-fighting should be clothed entirely in woollen garments. Cotton fabrics catch fire more readily than woollen ones, and allow more heat through. Water for drinking should be carried to the men. If this is neglected their tongues become swollen and they cannot endure the same amount of heat, nor can they continue to work for any long period. To sum up, the problem may be stated as follows : — (1.) There are 12,495 acres of plantation in the -Rotorua district, the outside boundary of which is about twenty-five miles in length. Owing to the hilly nature of the reserves it is impossible to, sec much of the boundary from any one point. (2.) The forester in charge has numerous duties to attend to which make it impossible for him to constantly patrol the boundaries. (3.) In the event of a five occurring on a Sunday or on a holiday time is lost in getting workmen to extinguish it. In view of the foregoing the following proposals for improving the protective measures are put forward : — (1.) The appointment of officers, to be designated Rangers, and given similar authority, whose main duty would consist in patrolling the boundaries during the dry season and keeping a watch for incipient fires; they to be accommodated in cottages built in positions commanding a good view of the plantation, and connected by telephone with the forester's house. During the wet months of the year they could be employed in keeping the fences in order and other work of a similar nature, and generally deal with trespass. (2.) The erection of living-quarters for, and the selection of, six or eight workmen at each station who would take it in turns to be on the place on Sundays or holidays. (3.) The equipment of a strong vehicle having a tank for carnung water, and a hand-pump and suction-hose for filling same. Also bucket-pumps and tools for fire-fighting. This vehicle to have seating-accommodation for six or eight men. (4.) The establishing of depots where water can easily be got. (5.) The planting of belts of deciduous trees, such as poplars, around the more inflammable blocks of pines. (G.) Amending the laws in regard to the lighting and spread of fire and trespass. The main idea in regard to the vehicle above mentioned was got from " Forestry in New England," by Hawley and Hawes. In this work much information is given about the protective measures adopted in the Connecticut, Massachusetts, and other of the eastern States. A special forest fire-wagon, which is described, is equipped with chemical extinguishers, galvanized cans containing extra charges of water and chemicals, also tools, &c. • The laws in respect to lighting fires and allowing these to spread into a State forest reserve might with advantage be amended to make it a punishable offence to light fires on Crown land, or to allow a fire to spread on to Crown land. Apart from the damage that may possibly result should such a fire get into one of the plantations, it seems remarkable that no thought has apparently been given to the damage done to the soil by fire. It is a common thing to see a fire smouldering for months in partly drained swamps, with the result that the humus is destroyed. Many acres of cut-out forest have deteriorated by similar means, yet the fires continue, and if the origin of some of them were sought out it would probably be found that the individual who was responsible was quite unconcerned and ignorant of the damage he had been the means of accomplishing. The law in respect to trespass upon Crown lands and State forests reserves is probably sufficient, but the regulation in which the" months from November to March, inclusive, are especially prohibited is not applicable to the plantation reserves, where trespass at any time of the year is undesirable. In the foregoing proposals for increasing the measures of protection the framework only of the proposed system is given. It will probably be necessary to establish something in the nature of fire-fighting corps and conduct regular practice work. This will ensure the services of probably sufficient men to cope with an average outbreak. When fire has threatened the plantations in the Rotorua district any appeal for help made to the workmen or the local Maori population has been cheerfully responded to, and if this spirit is fostered the sympathy of these people will go a long way towards making a success of any general scheme which is adopted. Proposals for 1913-14. Some five million trees are available in Rotorua Nursery, and these will be planted during the year at the plantations in this' district. It is hoped that the area under plantation will be increased by 1,500 acres during the year. Conclusion. The thanks of the Department are due to the Prisons Department for their co-operation in the tree-planting work. I have also to thank our own officers generally for their assiduity during a somewhat trying year. H. A. Goudik, Superintending Nurseryman, North Island.