# Afforestation
20. The operations of the year were of much greater extent than those of any previous year. The total number of trees planted,—that is, including the number of patches of seeds sown in situ—was one million, ninety-six thousand two hundred and thirty. Of this number 266,440 were planted, the remainder—829,790 patches, were of sowings in situ. The total of this year's work is thus 318,316 more than the total of last year's work. On account of the great want of rain in the first four months, planting was rendered extremely difficult, as, although artificial watering might be resorted to in dry weather to give the trees a start, water on the hills generally is not obtainable at that season. Trees planted in the first two or three months of the year make much better growth for some years than those planted when the season is well advanced; therefore, every effort is made to put out as many trees as possible at the very commencement of the year, advantage being taken of the few scattered localities where a drop of water is obtainable for artificial watering. It is also advisable, for the sake of distributing the work so as to relieve a little the great pressure on the staff, which comes with the rains, of planting so very large a number of trees, to commence early, although the necessary watering is an expensive item in the general costs.
21. As I mentioned in the Report for 1880, par. 20, an attempt was then made to form plantations by sowing the seeds in situ, instead of having the trees reared in nurseries and then transplanted to the hills. Most of the ground selected for this method of afforestation was exceptionally favourable in quality and aspect, and the result generally was very satisfactory. Consequently, the following year I was induced to repeat the experiment on a very much larger scale. By taking in hand so great an area, it was impossible, for want of some subordinates on the staff with more education or intelligence than those we now have, to select and plot out patches of land which were the best adapted to sowings in situ; therefore, the lands included soils of various qualities, and slopes of many different aspects, although as much care was exercised as possible in general instructions to avoid those places which were plainly unsuited to the work.
22. The extent of in situ sowing last year was a little greater than that of the previous year. The sowing commences about the beginning of February and is finished about the end of March or middle of April. The early months of last year, which were so unfavourable for planting, were equally so for the seeds which were sown. As showing the difference in this respect between the season of 1881 and that of 1882, I may state that in the three months of February, March, and April—which are those during which seeds are sown—in 1881, rain fell on 30 days, the total being 16.49 inches, while in the corresponding months in 1882, there were only 24 days on which rain fell, and the amount of rain was only 5.23 inches. In consequence of this extreme drought during three months while the seeds were in the ground, the earth became so hot and dry that a very large proportion of the seeds were scorched and dried up; the earliest sown germinated well after a little rain had moistened the soil, but during the subsequent dry weather, a large proportion succumbed for lack of moisture before the heavy rains of May began. I have noticed that on aspects sloping to the south, seeds in situ generally have but little chance of success, owing to the drying influence of the sun, which has there so much more power than on slopes with other aspects. On all steep places, the heavy rush of water from the rains carries away the loose soil and the seeds from many patches which are situated where the water collects in little channels.
23. It will thus be seen that seeds and tender seedlings have much more to contend with on the hills, where, after once put out, they are to a great extent out of the reach of further protection, than in nurseries, where, for a year, they can have their requirements attended to and receive protection from the various and manifold influences which threaten their existence. The cost of sowing in situ is only about one-fifth of that of using nursery trees, and as the losses sustained from the various causes attendant on the system are not more than one-third of the whole number, there is reason for pursuing that plan in places which are suitable for its successful accomplishment. But the two million patches which have been devoted to in situ sowings having taken up nearly all the suitable land on the northern side of the Island along the whole range from East to West, and much being left for tree planting proper, we should now again limit the in situ work and increase the nursery tree growing until the lands within moderately easy access from head-quarters are planted.
24. The increasing demands for intelligent supervision and direction of afforestation works being greater than could be supplied by the staff, as it is at present composed, I was driven to seek some way of relief from the pressure, and accordingly arranged the chief part of the nursery work to be carried out by contract, the contractors taking all responsibility, and agreeing to supply for this year's planting 300,000 trees at a fixed rate per thousand. The experiment was very successful, and it has been repeated this year for next year's supply. As the consent of the Government to resume land held by squatters on yearly licences, but liable to be resumed at a month's notice if the land should be required for public purposes, could not be obtained, the contractors had to make their own private arrangements with the squatters, a business which occupied a great deal of our time, and which gave an immense lot of trouble both to myself and the contractors. I cannot but think that it would be much better for the Government to temporarily resume such lands as may be required each year for nursery purposes as the scenes of operations move on, of course giving due compensation, which would...