TREE-PLANTING—A SUGGESTION.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1605, 23 November 1912, Page 14

TREE-PLANTING—A SUGGESTION.

Sir,—lh. looking over the Teport on State nurseries and. plantations, for 191112, I find that the authorities have been, planting quercus pedunculata (common •English oak). In tho days of the old wooden walls, knees, and bonds were essential for shipbuilding, and as the habit of growth of quercus pedunculata is to throw <sut large branches. at almost right angles to the main stem, it, was much sought after by naval constructors, but as tho present demand is for straight, clean-grown timber, and is likely to continue £0, quercus ses-' siliflora would be a. superior tree to plant to quercus pedunculata. QueroUs - eessiliflora. is of an - upright habit of growth, producing a long, clean stem of equal dimensions, quality, durability, and commercial value-to quercus pedunculata. The smaller crown and upright habit of the quercus sessiliflora allows of. greater volume of timber being grown on a given area. . . - I may, state that there are only two methods of successfully growing oak, that is to plant the acorns in tho plantation where they are to grow, into timbei', but if transplanted the young plants, when once they have become well rooted-, should be cut over 'close to the ground. The stools will ih the following spring throw out two or. three strong shoots, the straightest and best being selected for a tree, and the others cut. off. A transplanted, oak. unless treated in the above manner, will never produce a clean-grown'stem.—T. am. etc.. . JOHN MACPHEKSON. Masterton, November 21.