PINUS INSIGNIS

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 196, 17 May 1944, Page 4

PINUS INSIGNIS

Danger To Countryside Stressed Commenting on the recent discussion on pinus' insignia growing by the Wellington City and Suburban Water Board, Mr; David Bowie, n member of the board, said' he wns anxious that the discussion should not oe misinterpreted, anil so lead to promiscuous planting of this member ot the pine family to the detriment of existing trees, native bush and countryside generally. Mr. Bowie, admitting that Dinus timber had its uses, said he belieied that the fostering of .its growth, in all but selected areas, was inimical to the country in the broadest sense of the term. The idea today was to plant only five or ten trees to the acre he added, but owing to the self-sowing habits of the tree that could mean 50 or perhaps 100 trees to tfie acre in 20 years—ll forest which not only meant an impoverishment of the soil in relation to the growth of anything else in the area, but created a serious fire hazard. Finns insignia had the habit of sheading its needles, till a thick matting formed beneath the trees. Once the fire got into this inflammable floor it took a good deal of hard work to put it out. Fire in a pinus grove was a rather frightening sight, and could, in a gale, do great deal of damage to private pioperty.