The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. THURSDAY, MARCH 25, 1926. AFFORESTATION.

Hokitika Guardian, 25 March 1926, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. THURSDAY, MARCH 25, 1926. AFFORESTATION.

The afforestation movement in /calami lias taken tangible shape. The Forest, Service Inis been responsible in forcing; the need for afforestation on the public mind. He-afforestation is another aspect of the question, and it remains to lie seen how tar that .is going to he successful. It is unfortunately true, that the experiments hereabouts in planting on used timber areas is not showing much promise. It does not appear dear whether the right class of tree is being tried. Eucalypti trees which have been planted in a haphazard way in years past-, have done well, and it seems a question whether more should not he done in that, respect. N<> doubt the Eoresfc Service ere this lias acquired a good deal of information regarding tlie utility kinds of trees for introduction here. There are of course various kinds of tho eucalypti family, and those of the hardwood nature would ho of the. greatest use ill time to come. Tho wonderful growth of the. trees locally on the hard pan of clay grounds should give a good idea of where •experiments in local growth might be tried. There are many areas up and down Westland of the class of land referred to where planting in an experimental way could he tried. Trees which have come to maturity in"times past from haphazard planting, have been useful sticks in twenty to thirty years. That is not a very long period, and no doubt it would repay abundantly the outlay incurred in preparing such a plantation. But advice is necessary' as to the class of trees considered of the best utility. Hitherto firs and pines have been the chief kinds used in plantation work, hut there should ho the desine lo attempt the hardwood class in preference to the softer woods. The Coast brunch of the Forest Teague, combined with the Forest Service, might well take up the experiments with the hardwoods as suggested. The class of land on which the experiments would lie tried is essentially waste lands at present, and plots are spread up and down the Coast. Tl«? location of plantations in different localities in preference to a central plantation, is desirabe, as when timber grows to maturity, there would lie- a saving in transport, permitting it to be used as required in the various districts. From what- has been done in the past in the growth of the class of timber referred to, there is not so much experiment, about the process of growing. It is known that line trees have matured on the class of land referred to, and the timber produced has been of a. faluable nature. What is needed is guidance as to the right kinds of eucalypti to plant, having regard in particular to the class of hardwoods .inquired locally. There is no doubt by the introduction of useful timbers of the nature referred to, afforestation becomes an interesting ns well as a necessary policy to advance as much as possible. The newly formed Forest League on the Coast has the opportunity to set about its legitimate work will a definite and practicable policy fiefore it. Xo doubt once the suggestion is demonstrated practically, private owners with suitable lands wifi he inclined to follow, and there should l\> monev in the movement for local bodies also. In the future hardwood timbers will lie required for bridgebuilding as to-day, and the local body which in two or three decades can pro- I duce its own forest wi?alth will be in I a very fine position. The question of 1

afforestation therefore has possibilities well worth pursuing, and if put on tho right lines should be most successful from every point of view.