ARBORICULTURE.-IV.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2510, 24 April 1882, Page 3

ARBORICULTURE.-IV.

la taking a comprehensive view o! the vegetable kingdom we have at once impressed upon the mind an idea of a perfeot harmony existing between the characteristics of a country and its natural vegetation. At first sight we are led to believe that the vegetation was given its various forms to suit the requirements of the respective oountries and conditions ; but on a oloser exanination, with the aid of recent botanical researches, we are bound to come to the conclusion that geological and olimatio influences have moulded or adapted the flora; of the world to their respective surroundings and ciroumstances. Therefore, in pre-historio timeß, wherever there existed a depth of soil containing organio matter in its composition and a certain amount of moisturo, there must have been arboreal vegetation, and the records of all civilised countries point to this oonolusion. The whole of western Europe was once a vast forest; the extensive plains of India, where now trees are scarce, were covered with jungle, and all over the world the same story of devastation could be told—of man's warfare against nature. Fires, floods, and the axe of man have altered the appearance, olimate, and vegetation of whole continents, and in many instance*) ruined districts. Originally, forest clearing wan judicious and necessary, but now, on account of the clearing having been recklessly pursued, there is scarcely a country whioh has not had to seriously consider tho ro-planting of forests, the re establishing of what has been destroyed, and the amelioration of all the evils attending the ocaroity of vegotation whioh nature has instituted for the regulation of climate and irrigation purposes.

If there is one reason more than another why New Zaaland should zealously ester upon tho important work of establishing ex. tensive belts and blooks of forest, and tho conservation of what is now left, it is tho fact of having the finest collection of timber trees in the world indigenous to the oountry. There is no question about the invaluableness of our native timbers, the importance of our forests, and the great export trade which could be carried on in tho future, if we possess the timber. At present the export trade in native timber is considerable, but at the present rate of careless, indiscriminate, and unsystematic cutting and clearing, this trade will be a thing of the past before many years are over our beads, and worse than that, in time the best of New Zealand woods will be a rarity in their own land. I know there are some people who oannot see this ultimate effeob of past and present actions. But aocopticg the fact that trees have received their habits, appearances, qualities, and constitution} from climatio influences, we can easily conceive how many trees would pass out of existenoe on a sudden ohange of climate. Trees, as a rule, will not thrive under a wide range of climate, and there are some whioh will not stand the least difference of climate and surroundings. We know that teak, mahogany, ebony, &3., will not grow in this oountry, because there is suoh a great difference in the olimate of New Zealand and their oountries. Tho same with many other valuable trees. Although the temperature is similar, there is a differonoe in the atmosphere to which they cannot acclimatise themselves. Evidences are on every hand telling of immense quantities of totara, white and red pine, manuka, &?., whioh grew in and around Ohristchuroh and many parts of this province, where now there is not even a bush to bo oeon, and where none of the mentioned trees would grow if they were plantod. Visiting the rare patches of bush left to tell the tale of by-gone forests, we notice a dwindling away, a dying out every year; wo see no young ones springing up on every side, no natural spreading, and, in fact, we find few trees produoing vegetating seed j yet these trees are still prowing and thriving iu many parts of the island, although, from all accounts, in a•• great number of localities there is a perceptible [tendency to not spread, a want of vigor and growth in tho young trees, and a decided difference in the bulk of matured trees at the present time and those of former years, which are represented by immense trunks in a rotten state prostrate on tho ground. These facts plainly tell us of a ohanging olimate, that the conditions which were favorablo for the origin and growth of onr native trees are gradually being destroyed, and that the ohanoes of their existenoe are lessened every year. Now when we come to consider the nature of this country before the Maoris and Britons made their appearance we find that the climate was all that would bo desired for the growth of such troeß as totara, rimu, &0., and when we think of the hundreds and probably thousands of years these trees have existed under suoh favorable conditions and received their constitutions ; we can easily understand how an alteration of climate, even if it extonded over one hundred years, would materially affect the production and growth of trees, whioh are not adapted by nature to alter their requirements as circumstanoes change, Every part of a tree, or, in fact, all plants, are perfeotly made to suit the necessities of their native oountries, and when we see an exotio plant thriving exceedingly well out here we know that its original native habitat was similar to ours. Although there nro eomo trees which will thrive under almost any olimate, but these are exceptions. Formerly the idea of trees, &0., was entertained by many students of forestry, and soveral experiments were instituted in England and the European continent for the purpose of forcing certain trees to adapt themselves to thtir altered circumstances; but in almost every case these experiments were in vain, and at the present time it is well known that trees and nhrubs which have been introduced for ovor 200 years have not altered in their requirements, and will not thrive any more now than when first introduced. The experience of those who advocated the acclimatising of trees in England, is valuable to us in this country, inasmuch as it oaves us .be trouble of endeavoring to grow New Zsaland timber trees in this province by a series of germination and gradual training to the altered climate. _ There is only one way in which this object oan bo obtained, and that is, in | bringing the climate as nearly eb possible I to what it was when so many grand troeß flourished in this province. This may appear to bo impossible, but as the trees would be reared, plantod out, and cared for by the hand of man, there would be no ocoasion for a perpetual soaking atmosphere. By planting the banks of rivers, swamps, sandhills, and the flunks of all the mountains, so as to_ give this province the appearanoe of being intersooted by belts of forest and studded all ovor with blocks! of timber trees, tho majority of New Zealand woods indigenous to this island oould then be -eared in nurseries and planted amongst the other trees, where they would flourish, and in the oourse of time, when the imported trees were out down, would resume the position they once held in this province. Exposure and the parching N.W. winds are the two great drawbacks to the establishing of nativo trees here; but we know and have an abundance of useful exotic trees, which flourish under these difficulties, therefore the essential shelter can in time be obtained, and proof is not waiting as to the faot that by planting trees for shelter we increase the moisturo _of tho atmosphere and soil, and alto deprive hot winds of their power to do muoh evil, so that I see no difficulty whatever in the idea of Canterbury possessing in the future a vast and Increasing wealth of native timber. To obtain this objeot would be worthy the efforts of all lovers of this naturally blcsced country, for who can examine the numerous specimens of New Zealand timbers now on view at tho International Exhibition, without being struck with thoir beauty and utility. To make them known to the world is oredkable, and will increase their value, for such woods, when put into commerce, are bound to be eu£erly sought after ; but to cut the trees down indiscrim'nately and take hardly any steps (towards the conservation and propagating of them, does not become the actions of an advancing people like the present inhabitants of this country.

CIIBIS. MUDD, Duncan and Son's Exotic Nursery, Opawa.