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Waiotapu Plantation. (Area, 7,777 acres; altitude (approximate), 1,200 ft. to 2,000 ft.) Rain was registered on 150 days during the year, the total fall being 4332 in. The maximum shade temperature of 89° F., recorded on the 30th December, was the highest reading at this station during the past five years. The minimum temperature was ISO j\ ; on the Ist August. •Frost occurred on eighty-one nights. The month of September being exceptionally mild brought on splendid new growth, but unfortunately this was followed by severe late frosts which cut back some of the more tender species. Trees to the number of 1,812,250 were received from the Rotorua Nursery. Of this total, 1,356,475 were planted out over a new area of 498 acres, 449,125 were used in replacing the deaths in previous years' plantings, and the remainder (6,650) were used for shelter-belts around the paddocks on the Kaingaroa Plains. As in former years, the bulk of the planting was done by prison labour, which accounted for 1,126,825 trees on new area and 266,075 in the replacing of deaths. Planting by free labour was mostly on outlying parts of the plantation, 229,650 trees being on new area and 183,050 in replacing failures. 2,760 poplar cuttings were planted, principally on land unsuitable to other trees. Of the season's planting Pinus radiata seedlings were unable to withstand the severe winter frosts, and quite 50 per cent, will have to be replaced. Late frosts accounted for a good many losses in the Corsican pine, especially where this species had been planted on tussock country. With these exceptions, the remainder of the trees have made good headway, the tall seedling larch doing remarkably well. Taken right through, the season has been a good average one. The damage in the larger trees, due to late frosts, is confined to Douglas fir, and to small areas of larch planted on low-lying land, the trees being repeatedly cut back. Former plantings, still continue to make strong healthy growth. The formation of the new prison camp on the Kaingaroa Plains was completed in November last, and by the middle of January all the prison huts had been shifted on to the new site. It is now intended to work the area in the Waiotapu Valley with free labour, while the prison labour will be used on extension work on the Kaingaroa Plains. The buildings formerly used by the Prisons Department as kitchen, dining-room, and store, have been altered to provide accommodation for some of the men; this is greatly appreciated, as a cook can now be employed, and will probably be the means of the men stopping longer at the work than has been the rule in the past. Increased storage-room was obtained in the implementshed by some slight alterations. At No. 1 camp the old raupo tool-shed was pulled down, and to replace it a wooden shed 20 ft. by 8 ft. was erected. All the necessary labour in connection with the building and alterations was carried out by one of the workmen employed on the plantation. So far as can be ascertained, the plantation is practically free of disease. It is impossible at this stage to make a systematic examination of the different blocks, owing to the difficulty in moving about amongst the trees; and until the lower branches have been trimmed the amount of disease, if any, cannot be accurately stated, but so far as is possible the different blocks are kept under constant observation. Boundary fire-breaks were widened an extra half-chain in several places by cutting and burning the manuka outside the fence, thus making an efficient fire-break for the present. 440 chains long by about 1 chain wide were repkmghed, the remainder of the breaks being kept clear of all inflammable growth. The horse-paddock near the No. 1 camp was thoroughly tile-drained, worked, and sown with a mixture of permanent grasses, resulting in an excellent sward. An easily drained swamp adjoins this paddock, and will be gradually brought under cultivation to enlarge the present paddock. Rabbits and hares being on the increase, and doing a good deal of'damage to the young trees, a man was constantly employed during the winter and spring months in trapping and poisoning, with good results. The average daily number of men employed during the year was 10 - 02. A record of the rainfall and temperature for the year is attached. J. Mason, Assistant Forester. Kaingaroa Plains. (Area, 33,355 acres; altitude (approximate), 1,800 ft.) The prisoners were transferred here from the Waiotapu Valley on the 15th November', since which time those men who were not required upon work in connection with the establishment of the camp have been employed clearing land and digging pits for tree-planting. It is expected that by the time the tree-planting season arrives 700,000 pits will have been dug, which number, added to those dug previously by free labour, will make about 2,000,000 available for treeplanting. The land which has been pitted is suitable for pines only, and it is intended to confine this year's planting to Corsican pine. Owing to the exposed nature of the plains generally, wherever possible the native vegetation is being left untouched, in order _to provide shelter for the trees when they are planted. Unfortunately fires have gone over portions of it, and in such places only the hardiest trees will thrive. An experiment was made in sowing seeds of a number of trees in order to ascertain if there was any chance of stocking the land in this manner instead of planting. The seed was sown broadcast upon a strip of land which had been ploughed, left to fallow, and then harrowed. Birch, Pinus radiata,'Pinus ponderosa, Pinus Laricio, Douglas fir, and Eucalyptus Sluartiana were all tried, but in each case the result was failure. The seed germinated badly, and any seedlings which came through soon succumbed, owing probably to the unfavourable climatic 'conditions. Further trials on a small scale will be made, but land on which there is a growth of fern or manuka will be chosen, because it is apparent that the seedlings must have protection from the sun and wind in their young state,

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