The Chronicle. PUBLISHED DAILY THURSDAY, JULY 28, 1910. TIMBER GROWING.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 28 July 1910, Page 2

The Chronicle. PUBLISHED DAILY THURSDAY, JULY 28, 1910. TIMBER GROWING.

A i'ah.vguai'ti of especial interest to Iforowhenua Counity concludes the notes on timber growing prepared.' by Mr It. A. Goudie, superintending nurseryman of 'the Rotorua State Nursery, for insertion in this year's report of the Department of Lands. Oil it'his important subject Mr Goudie says :• — "It has already been said that certain hinds should never be icnbirely denuded of forest growth. Now, suppose a thin growth of small native it roes is left after the removal of any timber of a millable size, why not use this as a cover crop for growing a more valuable species, instead of having to face the numerous difficulties in the Way of growing trees on land tha;f 'has been destroyed by erosion ? Tnee-plaiiiting amongst native growth is, of course, necessarily expensive, but the time will surely como when it will be found necessary to plant such land with -trees, and why not do it before the iliumus is destroyed ? Agricultural pursuits and forestry operations should proceed si die by side. Let us ait once distinguish between land that is useful for farming and land that would he destroyed if the forest growth is removed. Reserve the latter for all time after taking out the valuable timber; gradually introduco a timber tree by planting as Itime and funds permit, but never let the land be entirely denuded. In this manner some return in the way of timber will be got from such a 'reserve, and, in addition to that, many such reservos will have a value that could not be computed in this way." It seems to ms that in the abovequoted paragraph there is reason for deep thought on the part of the dwellers in this district. Favoured as the district has been in the matter of forest growths, there has been a disposition amongst most of our settlers to regard the matter of tree planting as supererogatory. That, we submit, is a mistaken view to take; the claims of our posterity should be well weighed by every landholder and by every public official amongst us.