INSPECTION OF FORESTS

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21418, 9 March 1935, Page 4

INSPECTION OF FORESTS

* further effects of DROUGHT SEIAVYN PLANTATION BOARD'S TOUR An inspection of both older forests in the higher country and the younger stands further out on the plains was made during' the second day of the Selwyn Plantation Board's tour of its reserves yesterday. Many of the older stands have not suffered to any visible extent, but most of the young plantations exposed to the heat of the sun have been badly affected, presenting the board with a heavy programme of replanting. Fortunately the work in the nursery at Darfield has been little hindered by the drought, and there arc trees in large numbers waiting there to be planted out in place of fiie thousands that have been killed. The inspection was continued all day yesterday, starting from. Sheffield and going through Coalgate, Hororata, Bankside, and Southbridge. Although the widespread damage done by the drought, and the consequent upsetting of the board's programme, were disheartening, members of the board were thoroughly satisfied with the work done by the staff, and planning was done for the difficult year ahead. Oregon Successful In tJie first stand inspected, at Coalgate, young oregons had fared comparatively well in the shelter of the older trees. In Oliver's plantation, nearer Hororata, men were at work on the felling of firewood from an area of 53 acres of pines, and about 600 cords were stacked ready for removal. Through Hororata, the Boundary road sawmill, the largest on the board's premises, was working at a steady pressure. Oregon has proved decidedly successful about Hororata, and here, at Might's plantation, the board inspected an area of 158 acres of these trees. Of tills area about 120 acres are planted with six-year-old trees, which in the shelter of a belt of older oregons, appeared yesterday to be in excellent health. In the Slecman's road plantation the board inspected the work of a party of Jive returned soldiers who have cut and stacked firewood. Here the replanting work had been started, and the young pines and macrocarpa were thriving fairly well. Passing Bankside, on the way to Southbridge, the board inspected the progress of the work of cutting wattle, for which a great demand this season is anticipated. The superintendent (Mr R. G. Robinson) said that replanting would be carried out on this area shortly. Heavy Losses at Southbridge The effect of the drought was very evident at Southbridge, where quite 25 per cent, of a 500-acre stand of four-year-old trees, planted about two and a half years ago, had been killed. Mr Robinson said that until December this stand had appeared very healthy, but the- nor'-westers and prolonged drought had made young tree life on such an exposed area almost hopeless. The trees were insignis, ponderosa, laricio (Corsican pine), and macrocarpa. Replanting would be carried out at the earliest opportunity with stocks from the nursery at Darfield. At, Southbridge the board disbanded, a number of the members returning to Christchurch. PROGRESS OF WORK MEETING OF BOARD AT SHEFFIELD MILLING AND CUTTING OF TIMBER The progress of the Selwyn Plantation Board's work during the last month was reviewed at a meeting of the board held at Sheffield on Thursday evening. Mr C. G. Ellis presided, and there were also present Messrs R. Nairn, Godfrey Hall, J. F. Scott, A. Anderson, C. Wolfe, C. H. Adams, W. P. Spencer, R. M. Morten, and R. G. Robinson (superintendent). The superintendent reported that fair headway had been made with the various works carried on during the last month. Fortunately the changed weather during February had caused j a decided improvement in tree development, although the rains fell too late to benefit many of the trees ! planted last spring. Some 2.50 points of rain fell on 11 days during Febru- ! ary at Darfield.

Good progress was made in general milling and timber cutting. At the Boundary road mill, Hororata, 75.500 super feet of pine was sawn and disposed of, whilst about 35,000 super feet were also dealt with at Annat plantation. An appraisement of standing timber at Annat was made, and negotiations were under way for the sale of the stand. Firewood Supplies Firewood cutting had been carried on at five plantations, from which 173 cords of wattle, gum, and pine were cut and stacked. In addition 1000 stakes were split to order. With the advent of the colder weather the demand for firewood was increasing, and 145 cords of wattle and pine were sold and conveyed to the city. There were approximately 1500 cords of seasoned wood in stock. It was gratifying to be able to report that although several destructive lires occurred during February in the surrounding districts little damage had been done to board plantations by fire. The uprooting of burnt sod and gorse fence and replacement with a wire and standard structure at: Chamberlain's plantation was completed at a slightly lower cost than expected. Some miles of water-race- running through untenanted reserves were cleaned and ner.ious plants growing on th.. highway were grubbed out. About 15,000 cupressus macrocarpa seedlings were pricked off into trays after an unavoidable delay. The report was adopted. Brooklaiuls Timber Mr Robinson made a special report on an appraisement of the burnt plantation on Heyder's road, Brooklands. All boles (about 300) from which fair milling timber might be taken had beer blazed and measured, although in many cases a fair proportion of the tree could only be used for firewood purposes. The blackened bark and consequent reduced value of slabwood, together with the unpleasantness in working the timber, necessarily made the whole stand of Jess commercial value than one untouched by fire. There were slightly more than 70,000 super feet of pinewood suitable for milling, whilst in addition about 90 cords of firewood would remain. He recommended that alternative tenders for the exploitation of the stand be invited as follows:--O) The purchase of approximately 70,000 super feet of standing timber at 100 feet log measurement, and (2) the purchase of the whole stand of timber for milling or firewood purposes. The report was adopted. A further report was made by Mr Robinson on the returned soldiers' wood-cutting camp at Sleeman's road. Five men had Completed the woodcutting and stacking operations over the area stipulated at a previous inspection, and he had advised them to stop work until the situation had been reviewed by the board. The report was received, and the matter was held over for the arrangement of a cutting system on a cord i basis. I