FORESTRY

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 249, 9 July 1918, Page 8

FORESTRY

'AN AGRICULTURIST'S ADDRESS, ; In an address on "Forestry," delivered ' nntler tlie auspices of tho Taranati Agri- ; cultural Society, Mr. E. Maxwell defined ;. the business of modern forestry as ''the i art and practice of growing the largest i quantity of 'tlio most suitable lcii>ds of 1 wood or timber requisito to supply the , chief needs of the country or locality : upon the smallest area of ground in the ' shortest period of time." Jlf. Afa.xwell j proceeded:—"The covering of "a large 1 percentage of the total area of the coun- ! try with forests or plantations fairly ' throughout is requisite to . ensure equitable climatic conditions, con- ; Fervation of water supply, distribution , and retention of moisture, and the maini. tenance of the fertility of the soil, 'i'o many of us living in this.country, which ;", has hitherto since its settlement pur- ] Piled a policy of ruthless devastation and \ destruction of its magnificent native for- ; ests, such a programme may seem an j exaggeration and a demand for an unrea- ; conable proportion of the area of the : country to be given over to forestry. ' hut a_ little thought and knowledge (if ; "what is done jn other countries mil soon ■ lead one to a right conception of the ': matter. .Whilst there is not lime here i to enter on any discussion, I mav just ; draw your attention to the fact that in : snch a country as Germany, with its j population Of sixty-seven millions in an ; area of 205.530 square miles, twenty-six ' per cent., or over one qunr'.er of that 1 area, is in forest, whilst' New Zealand ' has of about I,loo.ooo—only a sixtieth of the population of Germany— ; with an area of 104,350 square miles, just : half that of Germany. . "The chief deterrent to general affnres- : tntion* and to local planting has been V the erroneous idea that trees of value for • timber are of slow growth. There are ■ trees which produce timber suitable for all ordinary needs that will grow with , the greatest rapidity. Success mostly depends on choosing the right kinds. The : first thing is to set out the requirements, : and for the farm they are many, viz., ■ fuel, fencing, splitting timber for palr ings, slabs, and planking, poles for : telephones, etc., case timber, and build- : tng timber."