AFFORESTATION.
18. The following trees were planted during the year:-
s sinensis two-year old plants size from 4 ft. to 10 ft. high sown in situ
Aleurites triloba (Candleberry-tree) 17 sown in situ...
Eucalyptus spp. (Gum-trees)
Cupressus torulosa (Bhotan Cypress).......... Bamboos Quercus salicina
Harlandi
Carried forward 144,948
Brought forward .......... 144,948 Ficus retusa (Banian) 862
(,,) large trees transplanted 60,555 | Pinus canariensis (Canary Island Pine)... 24 Cupressus funebris (Funereal Cypress)...
Syncarpia laurifolia (Turpertine-tree)... 1,537 | Grevillea robusta (Silky Oak)........ 1,900
452 Dammará robusta
164 Stillingia sebifera (Tallow-tree). 50
Albizzia Lebbek 50
Miscellaneous 210,542
210,542
61
16
23
26
14
22
21
25
31
234
211,015
19. Nine years experience has shown that two-year old seedlings of Pinus sinensis cannot be successfully and economically planted in consequence of the roots penetrating the soil to such a distance that balls of soil cannot be kept adhering so perfectly as desirable to the roots. No seeds of any kind were sown in the nurseries during 1879 for a supply of trees which should have been provided for planting during the year under notice, therefore when the Afforestation Department was returned to my charge in the end of the year 1879 I found that there was nothing available for planting except the refuse in the nurseries after the planting of 1879 had been finished, and these remaining trees were, through having been too much crowded, attenuated and very unpromising subjects for planting on the exposed hills, for which sturdy well grown plants should always be prepared. It was, however, advisable to do something with the available trees, therefore the worst weak and sickly trees were pulled up and sacrificed, to afford what benefit could be obtained during three or four months, which intervened between that time and the tree-planting season, to the trees which were selected for planting. In the face of these drawbacks it was anticipated that, however careful we might be in transplanting, a large percentage of deaths would inevitably ensue, a result which occurred, but not to the extent anticipated; about 20 per cent. only succumbed.
20. About seven years ago an experiment was made of sowing seeds of Pinus sinensis in situ, that is, small places, each about a foot square, were dug and levelled on the hillside where it was intended trees should grow, and on these sites a few seeds were sown. The trees on the plots of ground thus treated succeeded so well, and finding also that the trees reared by the villagers on Chinese territory and on this island had been thus reared, I was induced to prepare and sow 60,000 sites in the same manner. The seedlings on these sites having given sufficient promise of succeeding, a much larger area-viz., nearly 600 acres, containing about 650,000 sites-was selected for this mode of afforestation during 1881. Although the trees reared in situ do not grow so vigorously for the first few years as those reared in and transplanted from nurseries, still the method has much to recommend it. Taking it for granted that the same amount voted for afforestation during this year will be granted annually until the wooding of the island is completed, we shall be able to accomplish this desirable object in a quarter of the time, by sowing in situ, of that necessary under the nursery system. When the trees are large enough to fell for firewood, &c. a financial return for the outlay expended upon them can, it is hoped, be obtained by judicious periodical thinning and felling of portions of the plantations.
21. It is still desirable that nurseries, although on a smaller scale, should be maintained for raising a supply of trees for planting in situations where sowing in situ may be impracticable, and also for rearing other than pine trees which demand nursery treatment preparatory to planting, as it will be an object kept steadily in view to experiment with, and introduce, where successful, such foreign trees as are suitable for our soil, climate, and exposure, as will relieve the monotonous aspect of too much of any one kind of tree, besides, if possible, introducing others which may be valuable for timber or other economic uses.
22. As will be seen by the foregoing list several other than pine trees have been planted. I may mention first the Eucalypti of which over 1,500, comprising about a dozen kinds, were planted. Where these were planted amongst three-year planted pines they succeeded fairly well; Eucalyptus citriodora, the lemon-scented gum, having grown to, in some instances, 9 feet high in ten months, the largest having a circumference of 3 inches at one foot from the ground. Those planted away from the shelter of other trees have not done so well. The pine trees on the large area planted during 1880 will be about the right size in 1883 to be good nurses for other trees which I would advise being planted amongst them. It would be necessary to begin the preparation of such trees next year. More trees of the lemon-scented gum would have been planted last year, but it was impossible, in consequence of the limited supply in its native country, Queensland, to obtain sufficient seeds.
23. On the spur of Mount Gough jutting out towards Head Quarter House, above Kennedy Road, the sky-line of the ridge, at the instigation of His Excellency the Governor, was planted. Large bamboos, oaks (Quercus salicina, and Q. Harlandi), pines, and banians were used. The effect is very good, and the plantation a marked improvement to the scenery on the upper side of the above named road.