ARBORICULTURE.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2232, 28 May 1881, Page 3

ARBORICULTURE.

The cultivation of timber-producing trees has, during the last century, developed into national undertakings in almost all the leading countries of the globe. This ever increasing demand for trees has called into existence firms of gigantic proportions and of princely wealth, not only in the British Isles, but in America, where there are single nurseries of 3000 acres in extent. In Britain there is not a peer of the realm who does not derive a large part of his income from the sale of wood, whether it be the thinnings, coppice, poles, bark or wood in bulk. Many properties have 6000 to 15,000 acres under wood, and from 300 to 500 acres planted annually ; because the fact has been realised that trees can be cultivated as a regular crop, although often extending from one generation to another. In the United States, where there are still some 500,000,000 acres of primitive forest, the agriculturists of the Eastern States have turned their attention to tree planting as a profitable undertaking, and thousands of acres are being annually planted. In Germany forestry is a recognised profession, and Prance is renovating her climate and laying by blessings for future generations by her extensive planting. In India we have a thoroughly organised forest department; teak, gums, and in fact all suitable timbers are planted and attended to on an enormous scale. And now every colony in the British Empire is seriously meditating the conservation of forest lands and the formation of others. There are three causes of all this activity. Ist. A landscape view without a tree is devoid of beauty, and countries destitute of forest vegetation are unattractive. 2nd. Timber will always be a valuable commodity, and increase in demand with the increase of population, 3rd. The beneficial effect upon climate and country in general. The improved facilities for travelling in the future will enable countries of natural beauty to outstrip the monotonous ones in the great competition of attracting people; and so it will be with Canterbury—unless the dreary and monotonous plains are beautified with belts of timber, it will be long before this province reaches her point of perfection. There is no part of the world that could receive more benefits from scientific tree-planting than this province. Looking at Oanterburv as a vast plain extending from the sea to the foot of a snowcapped mountain range, we can easily conceive the idea—that with the plains covered by forest, we would have a moist and perhaps unhealthy climate; by partly clearing the rainfall would be reduced; and by clearing it all, we would produce a climate subject to droughts, warm winds, &c,, the same os now. By planting belts of timber trees throughout the province, storms and colds of winter would bo softened; the heat of summer and the hated north-wester would be modified; the moisture would be attracted from the mountains, rain would be more regular; the land wonld not, as it does now, dry up in a few hours after rain, for the shading effects of trees prevent a great deal of evaporation, and even away from the belts the evaporation wonld not be half so rapid, for the atmosphere itself would bo of a less rarified nature on account of the foliage giving off the gaseous elements of water. Then, again, highlands, slopes, and hills if planted would become mors fertile, because enabled to retain the water by the undergrowth, and so giving it time to penetrate deep into the subsoil. The warm north-west wind blowing uninterruptedly across the plains absorbs the moisture left in the soil and atmosphere injures crops, and by repetition causes thousands of acres to become sterile. By planting a proportionate amount of forest, currents of air carrying off moisture can be checked, and dry winds become a thing of the past. Looking away into the future, tracts of land now barren wonld become fertile by the accumulation of vegetable matter, the loosening of the hard soils by innumerable roots, and the draining of wet places by the wonderful respiration of loaves. Man has it in his power to alter and regulate the climate in which he lives by a judicious planting of trees. This fact can be proved beyond a doubt, and therefore the question which every well-wisher of Canterbury ought to ask himself is are we to hand over to the next generation a land fraught with drawbacks to agriculture, and cause our descendants to say—if our forefathers hod planted, what a glorious country and climate we should now have had P The great reason of arboriculture not obtaining a prominent place is, we cannot reap] the fruits •f our labour; but it becomes a man to study the future interests of his country and posterity. Another reason is, many have planted and met with disappointment, owing to the trees doing so badly. This is of common occurrence, and must be the ease with all who plant indiscriminately. By carefully selecting trees suitable for the various soils, trees of commercial value, and using judgment as regards the the time and manner of planting, as well as giving them a proper after treatment in the way of pruning, thinning, &0., the planting of trees can become a source of great wealth in a man’s lifetime, and a fortune to his children. Much more could be said of the social and financial benefits of forestry, but thinking a few remarks upon the principal timber trees will he of the most use to your numerous readers, I will leave the preceding points to after consideration.

Q,uerous ober, or the English oak*— There are two distinct varieties of this oak, Q, sessiliflora and Q. pedunculate ; the first is reckoned to be the most valuable as a timber tree, in not being so brittle as Q. pedunculate. The bark of these, and in fact of all oaks, is used for tanning. They are very accommodating to soil and position, but produce the best timber when grown in a deep, heavy soil, upon a clay or gravel subsoil. Qucrcua alba is the best of the American oaks; is extensively used in ship building and handle making. It is exported in large quantities to Europe. Requires good soil and shelter to come to perfection. Ash. —Valued for the toughness and elasticity of its timber. Does well in a moist, deep, sandy loam ; will grow, but never come to a profitable size m exposed situations.

Elms. —There are three species of these worth pleating for timber—Ulmus oampcstrie, U. glabra and U. montana. The first is the well-known English elm, and the last the Wyoh elm, the timber of which can, on account of its toughness, be applied to nearly all the uses of ash. They do best in a light, sandy loam, with a clay or gravelly subsoil, but as a rule succeed in moist situations. U. montana comes to perfection when planted on the slopes of gullies, &o. Hague sylvatioa Jor the beech, succeeds on any dry light soil; but does beat in land of a chalky nature. The wood is rather brittle and short grained ; will not stand long, but is largely used by turners and joiners for making small articles. Sycamore is a ivalnable tree for planting, not alone for its useful timber, but as being one of the best trees for exposed places, and is therefore the most suitable for planting on the outsides of plantations. It grows best on light sandy loam with clay or a gravel subsoil. Maple is even more (prized than the sycamore, in not being so liable to have its leaves perforated by insects, which renders the latter somewhat unsightly. It has all the other qualities of sycamore. Does best on light loam resting on rock. Plane Tree preduoss timber of the same quality as the sycamore, and flourishes under the same conditions. There are two good varieties—Platanus Oriontalis and P. Occidental's, the latter is the button wood or cotton tree of America.

Birch —There are several species of this family, the best of which is Botula ienta, or the mahogany birch ; it is a rapid grower and produces a close-grained and beautifully variegated wood. B. populifolia and B. papymeet, the canoe birch, are also worth growing; they are rapid growers, produce good timber and do well in exposed, damp, but not stagnant soil. Omufl. Muds, Eivcrkw.