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September 18, 1905.1
portant and in any case would hardly affect rotation. Salubrity also is probably as well served on one rotation as another.
In the choice of a rotation then the predom- inating considerations before the Government would be artistic beanty and financial profit, and the two can perhaps be best combined ou a rotation of 25-30 years. There can be no question that the older the trees grow the more picturesque they become: that this is recognized by the residents of Hongkong, as well as by the last Superintendent of this Department, Mr. Ford, is fully shown by their letters and writings in the local press. Considering, however, (1) that the 25-3 year-old tree is a good tree, 25.30 feet high; () that growth rapidly falls off after this age; and (3) that the high rate of interest on money in Hongkong and the various risks affecting the plantations, point to a low rotation, the Government is perhaps hardly justified in incurring the loss entailed by a longer one."
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The expense was carefully pointed out, and the rate of interest at Hongkong given as six per cent, with the result that the expert declared that in the case of trees grown for fuel, they would grow so little between this thirtieth and fiftieth year that their retention could not be justified at the high rate of interest in force." Three paragraphs of the reply ran as follows :-
"3. I should say that the period of the average felling rotation might well be fixed at 30 years, with another 5 years allowed in excep- tional conditions after investigations made on the spot (by means of a borer) to prove that there is no falling off in the annual increment. The felling of the trees at 30 to 35 years would not affect the beauty of the sylsan scenery. They would to the ordinary observer be as large then as they would be 20 years later though possibly more free from the picturesque contor. tions of disease and age.
4. But the extremely low height-growth and vitality shown in the above statistics points to the absence of suitable nutriment and protection 'of the soil. Fires are common and there is
little humus; that under the trees is collected by natives who derive their living from unauthorised, removals. If protection were adequate the height and girth growth would rapidly increase. I consider that for $1 it should be easy to protect 10 acres of plantation from fire and that it would be cheaper to provide for the poor Chinese in cash than in kind, when that kind consists of the life nutriment of the forest.
5. I see Hongkong is about 22 deg. North latitude, with an average mean temperature of 71.5 deg. and a mean rainfall of 8.69 ft. distributed over every month of the year, but in no month excessive. I would be glad to supply seed of Pinus longifolia and Pinus Khasya for trial if these have not been before attempted. It is a question for con ideration
whether the fellings of the existing crop should
not be carried out by selection of the maturs stems, the blanks caused by removal being sown or planted up so to avoid the occurrence of blank; unsightly areas which must result from clear fellings. If sowings were resorted to a much denser crop than 1,000 to the aore could be assured at a cheaper rate and to the better protection of the soil. Perhaps there are local reasons forbidding this, but in any case the forest to be beautiful and valuable must be protected from fire and not robbed of nature's nutriment."
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CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
The Executive Council convened on that date | places of responsibility. Now there are decided that selection felling should be adopted already in Japan a very large number of throughout Hongkong except in Forest Divi students, and we therefore hereby command sions 4 and 5. The system applied to a 35-year that a large number shall also be sent to rotation-that authorized on the same cocasion study in Europe and America, an1 to thoss means that the annual number of fellings who are willing to cross the wide oceans 'in (about 100 trees next year) will take place order to gain substantial knowledge to be of over a large area, the trees being selected here use to their country when they return home, and there, one in thirty-five, out of the whole we shall certainly show our deepest pleasure crop. In the ensuing planting sea on the gaps and commendation. Our Ministers abroad all caused by the fl of these s ngle trees would have a duty to look over the interests and have to be fo nd and planted with 3-6 saplings studies of the students sojourning in the count each, according to the size of the gap. These tri-s to which these Ministers are accredited, and would have to be found again if watering were they should treat the students like their own required, which it usully is several times children and relatives. The Ministers must before the rains commence. The amount of every now and then examine these students labour required for these operations would as to their studies, and keep a good care alone reader the cost of them prohibitive. But over them irrespective whether they be a more serious diffi ulty would be encountered. Government students or private, so long as The second and all subsequent selection felings such are well-behaved and close students, would be made in immediate proximity to rising Should any of these be in want of money to saplings, many of which must of necessity be prosecute their studies, or any be ill, our damaged by the fall of the adult trees. These Ministers are expected to give what pecuniary uiffeulties do not arise in places where natural or other aid the cases may demand. In the regeneration takes place for the ground is at all case of students behaving improperly, they are times kept stocked with saplings by nature and to be kept under striot control so that all whọ the destruction of a few matters little; as nature may go abroad to study may return to give moreover fills the gap caused by felling, no their best talents to their country. Let not extra expense is caused by their diffuseness. our officials look slightingly on these students, Selection feiling in that case may be very desir but assist the throne in every way to obtain able, but under oar local conditions, no natural men of ability and use for the betterment of regeneration taking place, some modification the Empire. will be necessary.
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The correspondence was laid before the Executive Council by command of His Ex- cellency the Governor, and at a Meeting held on the 24th July, 1905, it was recommended that a thirty-five years rotation should be adopted, subject to special permission being given for felling young trees on proof of falling off in annual increment, and that "selection felling should be substituted for "block ' felling except in the areas in the neigh bourhood of Tytam and Stanley, known as Forest Districts 4 and 5.
A further representation was made to the Government by the Superintendent, Botanical and Afforestation Department, in the following letter dated the 10th August, 1905.
SIB-I have the honour to state that upon attempting to prepare a working plan for future Forestry operatious, I find it to be impracticable to do so upon the system authorised by Council on 24th July, 1995.
I would propose for the consideration of the Government the adoption of the "Shelterwood Strip System." In this method of felling and re-planting, narrow strips of wood are felied, the remainder being left standing to protect the saplings which are subsequently planted is the clearings. No very conspicuous gps are made, the planting areas are easy to find, and the adult trees next the saplings can be felled away from them:
If all trees were felled at exactly 3 years old in Hongkong the plantations would be felled as they were planted, in blocks. If the selection or shelter-wood systems are adopted it is not possible to cut all trees at the right age, but mature blocks should be fel ed within as short a period of years as is pos-ible without making conspicuous gaps. By cutting and re-planting judiciously, homogeneous blocks can be stratified so as to yield regular crops of adult trees,
Only of the ground (in two narrow strips) is ever bare at the same time,,ie., 4 times 35 years; the departure from the normal rotation of 35 years is never more than 5 years and after three cycles is reduced to nothing; that is to say in the first and second cycles some trees are out 5 years too young, some 4 years too old; in the third cycle all are cut at the best age.— I havė, &o.,
8. T. DUNN,
The matter was again considered in Executive
Council on the 24th August, 1905, and a resolu
tion was passed to the effect that in view of the difficulty and expense of re-planting under the selection felling system, the "Shelterwood Strip System" of felling and re-planting should be adopted except in Forest Districts 4 and c, where "block" felling should be continued.
CHINESE STUDENTS AND THEIR EMPEROR.
An edict of the Chinese Emperor, trans- lated by the N.-C. Daily Neics, runs-Some time ago we ordered the selection of a number of young men of ability from the various pro- vinces to send them abroad to study, and we find that the Viceroys and Governors concern- ed have obeyed our commands. Now, the students who are abroad must bear in mind that they should study with profit to themselves and their country, so that when they return. thould not shirk the studies that are hard they may be of use to the Government. They to attain in favour of the simple ones, and Во make useless officials of themselves, of benefit to no one. Each student should take up the studies for which there is a bent in his mind, and thus turn out men of substantial us", and when they return to Chins show by examination what they are capable of. Men who prove their knowledge and ability at these examinations will be granted the highest literary degrees so as to fit them to take up
CHINA AND THE CHINESE EASTERN RAILWAY,
A telegram to the N.-C. Daily News, dated Peing, 2nd September, says:
At a secret conference of the Waiwupu it has been re-olved that if Russia should demand compensation from China for the return to China of the Chinese Eastern Railway, which has been heretofore the joint enterprise of Russia and China, China should refuse to accede to the demand, but Russia, who has allowed Japan to occupy the railway should, on the other hand. compensate China. Otherwise, Russia should transfer all her railway conces sions in Chins to Japan, with whom China would jointly complete the works.
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The German Minister is said to have advised Prince Ching that, as China has shares in the Chinese Eastern Railway to the extent of Tls. 5,000,000, which Japan has now compelled Russia to give up China, would do well to' communicate with Japan as to the measures regarding the railway to be taken by the latter. The Prince has now stated the result of his interview with the German Minister in a memorial to the Throne, and is still conferring with the Waiwupu Ministers and the Grand Council.
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THE CHINESE AS MORPHOMANIACS.
The Cablenews of Sept. 9th reports:-Chun Sun, one of the thirteen Chinese arrested for practising medicine without a license, was found guilty by Judge Crossfield yesterday and sen- tenced to pay a fine of 50 pesos.. Sun was unable to pay and will have to work out his fins in Bilibid prison, at the rate of 50 cents per diem.
The offence of which Chun was convicted was that of administering hypodermic injections of morphine as a cure of that habit. A photograph of one of the victims of the gang of quacks, introduced in evidence, presented a most horrible sight, the entire body being covered with a mass of suppuration, caused by the sores resulting from the pricks of the syringe.
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The detective bureau is determined to stamp out the nefarious practice and more arrests will follow as soon as the evidence can be secured.
P. Lammert on Sept. 12 Lut up for public auction At his sales rooms in Duddell Streef, Mr. G.
sale the Italian steamer Dominico, together with her engines, boilers, anchors, chains, geer, etc. (excepting co 1, stores and provisions) as she now lies off Ni-wok Island. The bidding, which opened at $200, was spirited, and the wreck was eventually knocked down to Mr. Kit Kes for $1.950. This is a good price considering the vessel is lying in a part known to be infested by. pirates, and at low water only a small portion, la visible.