The planting process consists of scraping away the surface litter with a few side strokes of the planting tool, and then digging the hole, setting the plant in and filling up as shown in the diagram attached. The crew is lined up in the following formation, not exceeding fifteen men to the crew. No. 1 sets the pace. No. 14 marks the line. They reverse on the return. These men get an extra shilling a day.· 1 The foreman follows behind, testing the planting and generally directing. The crew is turned in the following way : : No. 1 finishes first and takes his place for the return trip: The spacing is generally 8 x 8, judged by the eye. The planting operations. I observed were in Lolo National Forest in Montana on a large burn, and the site was to all appearances a typical hilly N.S.W. North Coast dairying selection after ringbarking and burning off. The only difference was the climate-six or eight months' snow, and a 15-inch precipitation. It was considered too dry a site for a homestead. The ground was not prepared in any way for planting. This represents the greatest cost-saver in planting work. I inspected some areas which had been planted for a number of years. The plants were thriving and there appeared to have been an 80 per cent. success. The records show that for Montana, the average success is 60 per cent. after three years. This result is considered a good one for the expenditure, and sufficiently satisfactory for forestry purposes. No special fire protection is afforded beyond that provided by the general fire organisation. The collection of seed for nursery use is part of the regular work in each district. It is concentrated on areas where seed of the species and locality desired, can be gathered at the lowest cost. Extensive collection is not attempted in seasons when the cost is likely to be excessive on account of poor crops. All planting operations are "closely studied by district and forest officers. to ascertain the reasons for success or failure, and enable the experience gained to be intelligently applied." Detailed periodic inspections and sample plot measurements are made and their findings reported. Pull back upper part Raise up on handle opening bottom of hole (5) (6) same depth it stood in the nursery Place roots straight down in the middle of the hole. Have tree the Push the dirt into the hole Pack the upper part. This tree is set correctly. 1 see no reason why American methods should not be applied to Australian conditions, after intelligent modification where required. If their application achieves the same financial result, then they will save the State, in course of years, a huge sum of money. CHAPTER VIII. FOREST CLASSIFICATION. A "LONGSIGHT" POLICY. The early solution and rapid development of American forestry, are founded upon the clear cut, direct, initial policy of forest classification. The Australian theory has been classification first, dedication afterwards." The American was "dedication first, classification at leisure." The first has resulted in a fierce scramble between lands and forestry interests, with the nine points of possession in favour of the former. Meanwhile forestry practice is postponed. The second has resulted in the immediate establishment of forestry practice. Classification was subordinated to the paramount purpose of the dedications and is not yet complete. But it is being done co-ordinately with the purpose of the National Forests. Under the Act of 3 March, 1891, the President was empowered to create National Forests, and vast tracts averaging 1,000,000 acres apiece were proclaimed as such. 66 A following Act of June, 1897, stipulated that it was not intended to include lands chiefly valuable for minerals or for Agriculture," and the Act of 11 June, 1906, authorised the Secretary of Agriculture "at his discretion and upon approval or otherwise to locate such lands which, in his opinion, might be occupied for agricultural purposes without injury to the forest reserves, and which are not needed for public purposes, " and to request the Secretary of Lands to make them available in areas of not exceeding 160 acres. Under this Act preference was given the first applicant for the examination of tracts. This preference clause was taken advantage of by land agents to instigate floods of applications for new tracts—at a fee of from £1 to £20. Just as often as not the land applied for was located on a rocky mountain side unfit even for goats, and the application was turned down. Whereupon the resentment of the land-seeker was skilfully deflected by the land agent against the Forest Service on the score of error, misrepresentation, and fraud. Much the same thing has occurred in Australia. The amendatory Act of August, 1912, which completed the classification scheme, “directed and required the Secretary of Agriculture to select, classify, and segregate as soon as practicable," all such lands, and granted liberal appropriations for the purpose. In some respects, the classification problems of American forestry were much simpler than those of Australia. Most of the National Forests were situated in the high rugged mountain regions of the west, where agricultural lands are very limited. Furthermore, such lands as in Australia would be regarded as suitable for mixed farming consequent upon the much more productive climate could not be classified as such in America, owing to the coldness, dryness, and high altitudes. A further feature was remoteness and inaccessibility, as opposed to the proximity of our own forests to civilisation. Apart from the segregation of agricultural lands within a forest, the general character of the lands contemplated by the dedicatory Acts of 1891 and 1897 had been defined in a joint letter to the President by the Secretary of the Interior (Lands) and the Secretary of Agriculture, dated 7 February, 1910, as follows: (1.) Lands wholly or in part covered with brush or other undergrowth, which protects stream flow or checks erosion on the watershed of any stream important to irrigation, water power, or to the water supply of any city, town, or community or open lands on which trees may be grown, should be retained within the National Forests, unless their permanent value under cultivation is greater than their value as a protective forest. |