PLANT A TREE

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2365, 22 January 1915, Page 7

PLANT A TREE

RE-AFFORESTATION IN NEW ZEALAND

AN INTERESTING PAPER Before the conference of the New Zealand Association of Nurserymen iheld in the Chamber of Commerce, a paper was read by Mr. R. Nairn, of Chrktcliurcli, on "The Planting of Forest Trees in the Dominion. 1 ' "The plant of forest trees "in the Dominion," said Mr. Nairn, "praotically started in< the Canterbury Proyince. This is its earliest history. Why hero first, arose out of the necessity of its settlers both for timber and shelter purposes, more particularly the latter. "The'Jong stretch of open plains, often wind-swept, forced the settlers at an early date to make plantation of considerable importance. '• Later; plantation boards were brought into existence, who planted on a large scale, ana •their work is much in evidence in every part of the province. The Provincial Council and the railway authorities earned out extensive plantings, which ore more or lees a success. "The early squatters both in Otago and Canterbury came mostly from Australia,'.and as an evidenoe of this fact planted Australian gums freely around their homesteads, and this aooounts for the presence of many fine specimens of gums in many of the out-of-the-war places in the W>k-blooks of the South' Island. Later, the presence of numbers of eottlers from England explains the numerous plantations of oaks, ash; sycamore, and other English trees, of which there are such handsome specimens in many of the estates in Canterbury. After this followed the introduction of the Californian trees and Indian cedars. These, for a time, were the most freely , planted, and m the greatest variety. As a result of this extensive planting in the_ past, we are now able to form convictions as to the .value. of most' of the varieties of the trees planted and obtain a guide for future efforts in this direction. Blunders of the Past. "One of the blunders in the pasthaa beon the planting in great numbers of many kinds of-trees which have proved useless either as timber or shelter trees. The climate in. many parts of New Zealand is quite unsuited to the successful culture of many of the standard forest trees which have, such high commercial .value in other countries of the world. 'As an instance, the laroh, which does so well in Scotland, is only a partial success in New Zealand, and then only when grown in deep soil which never suffers from drought. In poor, shingly soils, and without protection from the drying winds, stunted trees are to be expected, aJid mostly experienced. In .a few districts, where the rainfall is abundant, it is doing well, but unfortunately such districts are far "removed from the population which need timber and because of this the value ■ of this tree will necessarily be small. The sums include some of the best of'our forest trees, and are invaluable for all kinds of farming needs, more particularly for posts and rails, and for all time will he .needed' for this purpose. Not only for farm work will 'the gums be needed, but also for firewood, bridgebuilding, spokes and • fellows in drays and New Zealand ship building. The Cupressus Macrocarpa has proved to 'be one of the most' useful of our timber trees. Its greatest asset is. its_ lasting qualities when buried in the soil. For posts arid stakes in connection with wire and netting purposes, it has proved to have the greatest value. To. get the most results from this tree it should be grown fairly'close together, say.6ft. apart, ' and thus ensure an upright frowth .free -a .superabipdance of -'''V . 4 "!T'::

_ - The Plnuß Family. "The Pinus Radiata, popularly known as Pinuar-Insigrius.'i- is- perhaps: the most useful of all the. importations from California. It has the greatest value, as a shelter tree, growing more rapidly ; than any other and giving immediate results. As a timber tree it has considerable value for box-making purposes suitable to the export of apples, and. beoause of this, should be freely planted in those districts where the. apple is grown in In ite other value is limited to .the making of shelter-sheds, .stables, and outhouses of a cheap nar ture. This pine is fit for outting up at any time from 80. to 40. years old. and It is doubtful if it should be allowed to stand'after it is 50 years, as after ;that dat-A it is liable to lose vitality, ilts maturity/, is' too hurried to have lasting qualities. "Pinus Laricio, or the Corsican pine, is a valuable timber tree, but very slowgrowing, and oan have .only prospective .value to. those who will live in generations to-come'" Tho generations to come should be thought of, and'any scheme of planting should seriously consider ♦the great value of Pinu's Laricio. "Pinus Muricata is valuable only for shelter'purposes and as a protection against the 6ea blasts, whicn are so damaging to muoh of our vegetation, ,and must be grown by nurserymen to meet the demand for same. Deciduous -Trees. "Such deciduous trees as English Oaks, sycamore, ash, walnuts, and many : or the willows, although of little commercial value in New Zealand up to the present, will, in years to come, be in great demand for ' manufacturing purposes in relation to furniture and building. These trees, however, if grown in poor soils, make but poor growth, and the quality of the tamper is worthless and of no market value. "Robinia Pseudo-Acacia, or "false acacia," is another tree suited to the needs of the sheep-farmer—for stakes: and posts, which last in the ground for generations without rotting. It has no other value. . "Abies Douglasßi, the Oregon pine, is the best of all the species for cultivation in this country. It is a valuable timber suitable for building purposes, and is free from the attacks of the thrip or red spider, which is so damaging to the Abies Excel6a and Abies Menziesii, both, of which wero planted in Canterbury in tens of thousands many years- ago, but are now, stunted, and in many cases have been destroyed by this pest. There are not many other forest trees whioh have proved a success in New Zealand for timber purposes. • One, lowever, not yet mentioned; will be itfthe near future. This refers to the Lombardy poplar (Populus Fastigiata). For shelter belts around orchards it is ono of the beet protectors. Growing tall, it shelters for a great distance. 'It does not take up a great deal of room at the base, and has the advantage of losing its foliage in the winter, and so letting in the winds and rain to olean the trees. 'It has another quality, mostly unknown, 7iz., that it is an invaluable timber for making butter boxes, and for this purpose will be grown in great quantities in the near future. This poplar is quick i f rowing, but a sport from it named cpulus Fastigiata Angularis Robusta makes growth much more rapidly—in point of fact, will make double the growth in a season than the old variety does. Dr. Cockayne ha 6 been vigorously commending the Lombardy poplar as a timber of great merit for the future needs of the Dominion, and because of these needs you have this paper inspired to-day. "Planting trees for timber purposes must be wisely considered, however. The kinds of trees that will do well in tbe right place are recommended, and the trees for the needs of the place snould bo planted in quantity arid with wisdom.

'Innumerable varieties of trees havo been planted in the Dominion in the past, and now when-fully matured are valueless. Much better to limit the planting of forest trees to a few varieties which will be useful, and needed in quantities in the future.