TREKS SUITABLE FOR PLANTING IN NEW ZEALAND.

Dunstan Times, Issue 286, 18 October 1867, Page 3

TREKS SUITABLE FOR PLANTING IN NEW ZEALAND.

It is surprising what a large amount of comfort a man may obtain by a little forethought .and judgment. With a view to the exercise of these good qualities, we beg to press upon the acquaintance- -we might say the friendship—of our readers that much neglected'trce, the Elder. This, like those which have preceded it, it is a deciduous tree, and may either be grown for an ornament or as a fence. We have noticed in our garden that birds, which are great connoisseurs of fruit, invariably abstract our elderberries as they ripen, and—if wc may judge from their rollicking, warbling notes after a feast- they too experience somewhat of the delicious narcotic influence the berry can produce. The' renown of the Elder is not of yesterday. The great physician Boorhave so highly prized its medicinal qualities that on passing it he paid it the same tribute which a Scotch poet is said to have paid to female beauty, by reverentially taking off his hat. But to the colonist there is yet another claim on his attention, for the Elder grows with rapidity, and forms an excellent fence, where other trees will not grow. Its wood is hard, somewhat resembling Box. The Elder may be raised from seeds and from cuttings. If it bo desired to form a hedge, stakes about three feet long should bo cut from trees of three or four years growth,

and forced about fourteen or fifteen inches into the ground in early spring ; if the situation be rather damp so much the better. As if to suit varying circumstances, and to be all things to all men, it flourishes alike on hot dry sand and wet marshy soil. The ELM.—This tree is also a leaf shedder. It attains a stately growth, considerable rotundity of person, and is the earliest tree in putting in an appearance in spring. Elms have been known to be in their prime at li>o years ; but, as a timber tree, the) should be felled later than 50 or sixty years old. It is particularly adapted for a shelter tree, and affords rjftcu'ur facilities for this in being capable of being transplanted, after having attained considerable growth ; therefore, it has strong recommendations in its favor in the eyes of the colonist. The kinds of Elms usually selected are the small leaf, or true English Elm, the long rough-leafed English Elm, and the rough barked Dutch Elm. The tree may be raised from fuckers, but trees thus raised have a tendency to throw out suckers, and are very often a nuisance in con sequence. The best, easiest, most expeditious, mid cheapest mode of propogatiou icuttings. The Elm prefers a deep arm somewhat fertile soil, and will do remarkably well on rich clay and heavy loam, ;i ici succeed perfectly on the declivity of clay ridges. The Larch, or common pine, would le one of tile most valuable of trees, if it could be successfully grown in New Zealand ; but we do not know an instance where the success has been by any means eiieouragi-g. It ;.-. a : <nest>-x.K o-, :; lU; , s tree, and gro>vs to the height of 100 feel and more. It is lit for use at any perioj of its growth. It is said to llourish on th. most barren hills and exposed situations, on rocky, tandy ami gravelly toils, but on deep rich soils the growth is too rapid for durability. The Larch is extremely tender for the first two or three years, but becomes very hardy afterwards. it is grown from seed and requires much attention. He who Would succoeed in rearing a successful plantation of Larches would be a benefactor to the Colony, and deserving a handsome reward from the Government. it seems tu delight in being planted in wild alternations of hill and valley, opening to the north. It has been acclimatised is. Perthshire for years, and mi o ht with judgment liud a suitable home i.i ;\'jw Zealand. From remote times to the present the Poplar has been in repute as a sheltering tree lor paddocks ami gardens, for which fche.r.ipiuHyoi us grow to makes it particularly valuable, i. would lorm a.: ex.-eil.n: nurse for other trees, for a gio.vth of sixteen feet long ai.d one inch liiick in a season is no trille. The Poplar grows well in col 1 exposed situations. The Croat Maple, called Sycamore and Plane tree, stands the Si a breeze and salt spray well, andyr-lds very close and compact timber for furniture aid ma.-himry, though perishable when exposed to In .re are two well known Line , the i 0:111 m n Walnut of !>,: land and the white Walnut or Hickory of America. It is nut w-Il adapted for a shelter tree, as its leaves appear late and tall eaily. We do m 1 know why both kinds should not be grown in Now Zealand, and we verdure ~, predict great thin;, s from the introduction of the Hickory, on ac-ou:it of the many farm uses to which it may be applied. The W thru is a rapidly growing tree till a c irtainage. It revels in a rich dceu clav i.r loam. Wt- now conclude our review by rccommending flie-rxtensive plantation of Willows on lew swim' y lands, as them are few trees which so delight the eye as the fine spray-like foilage of lite Weeping Willow as S. I; n-sts info file 1 •. f.-e cam- .v..-a, Amongthovario is number ofWillov.skno.vii to the colonists, there are only three kir.de that need be named. 'I he Osier, for basket work, the White Willow, for timber, and the Weeping Willow, for beauty. They all grow rapidly, and take readily from cuttings, which, not unlike some village politicians, may be put indifferently with cither end in the ground. The Willow may be planted with advantage t" give firmness to the banks of rivers—New Zealand Advertiser.