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SECTION 3. ANNUAL REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR OF FORESTRY FOR THE YEAR ENDED 3 IST MARCH, 1925. CHAPTER 1.-FORESTRY PROGRESS: A BRIEF REVIEW. New high levels in State and private forest achievements, in many respects unique within the British Empire, are recorded for the year ended 31st March, 1925. State Forestation Activities. A total area of 11,051 acres was planted with forest-trees in the State plantations of the North and South Islands. The formation cost, including labour and cost of trees, was £1 Bs. lid. per acre over 80 per cent, of the area planted, compared with £1 13s. 7d. for the previous year, and £5 ss. 7d. for the year 1922-23. This means a reduction of 14 per cent, on the 1923-24 cost, and 72J per cent, on that for 1922-23. In the South Island costs are normally higher, because of expensive scrubclearing and rabbit-fencing. The State forest plantations now cover 62,906 acres.

Comparison of Annual Tree-planting Operations in State Forest Plantations for the Years 1921-25.

Private and Local Government Forestation Operations. A Dominion-wide interest and "participation on the part of local governing bodies was solidly and generally expressed by forest-planting action during the year. City, Municipal, and County Councils, Harbour Boards, and Electric-power Boards to the number of seventeen ca.rried out communal forest plantings on 1,600 acres, while industrial companies, co-operative dairy manufacturers, proprietary afforestation companies, syndicates, and private plantation operations formed 9,000 acres of man-made forests. Company projects were initiated for the establishment of at least 30,000 acres of timber farms. In this connection, however, a note of warning and of caution is offered in reference to overenthusiastic statements which have been made, and are being made, with regard to the growth and value of Pinus radiata (or Pinus insiqnis) plantations by tree-planting companies, the figures being in some cases absolutely impossible. With regard to yield and production figures of this and other pine species, the truth is quite sufficient and ample without exaggerating the ultimate yields. The unique progress that has been made in improved nursery propagation practice in several of the Service nurseries is to be specially commended, for those improvements are directly resulting in cheaper and better trees, and the permanent installation of true mass production methods. Substantial reduction in the high labour-costs (from 75 to 80 per cent.) of tree-propagation is being effected,, with consequent benefits to the community. Tree-planting for profit is a habit now in the Dominion, and there is probably no country in the world that lends itself so admirably to timber-farming. State Forests. The total area of State forests under the management of the Forest Service was increased by 52,409 acres during the year. The grand total acreage of nationally owned forests dedicated to timbercrop production is now 7,485,590 acres, compared with 4,144,076 acres in December, 1919—an increase of 80 per cent. Daring the year 2,162,263 acres were jointly classified and demarcated by the Forest Service and the Department of Lands and Survey, whilst 83,669 acres were added to the permanent State forest list. The ratio of the area of State forests to the total area of the Dominion is now 11-3 per cent., compared with 6-2 per cent, in the year 1919. Forest-protection. The prevention of forest-fires in State forests, owing to loyal public support and the operation of forest fire districts, was most effective during the year, and nearly a perfect record was established. The resultant damage due to twelve fires over an area of 126 acres of timber-land was only £61. In the suppression of deer and wild-pig menace bounty-money was paid on 7,433 deer tails, and 9,000 pigs' snouts —" a mere drop in the bucket " compared with the total number of these pests.

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