MONEY IN TREES?

Hokitika Guardian, 25 August 1926, Page 4

MONEY IN TREES?

ACTUAL RETURN FROM A PLANTATION. £54 PER ACRE IN 40 YEARS. “In view ol the expansive afforestation policy advocated by Dominion enthusiasts, and now being carried into effect by private companies, the furnishing of certain particulars associated with the mixed planting and final exploiting of a typical matured, mixed stand of 40 acres about two miles from Racecourse Hill siding will prove of interest,” states the annual report of the Superintendent to the Selwyn Plantations Board, Air G. R. Robinson. “ Alaiiv plantations of this nature have been ruthlessly sacrificed, simply because the owners have failed to make themselves conversant with reasonable jvood values and several instances of’ matured pine plantations in proximity to rail, being practically given away to millers at a price representing Is 3d 100 sup. feet, are known. It is therefore not surprising to hear of afforestation schemes in general being condemned by persons whose monetary returns from their timber belts have, through indiscreet sales, been insufficient to recompense them for the original outlay in establishment, withdrawal 'of land from cereal growing or pasturage and loss of interest on capital expended.

PLANTED JN 1887. “ The plantation under review was planted under the direction of the old Selwyn County Council in September, 1887, for the dual purpose of providing timber for general purposes, and shelter to adjacent properties, and too much credit cannot be bestowed upon these far-sighted, pioneer tree-planters whose objects have been truly accomplished. The best of modern practices have to a very great extent, been the outcome of observations from such maturing woods.

“ Included in the original planting were such trees as pinus insignia; P. ponderosa ; P. hirico ; P. pinaster, Oregon pine; larch; silver birch; eucalyptus viminalis ; E. amygdalina ; E. obliqun ; E. gunnii. which were generally spaced at about Oft aaprt. As might be expected, the vigorous growing P. insignis quickly dominated the position and caused partial or complete suppression to their slower-growing neighbours. Here and there throughout, however, excellent specimens of oregons and gums grew up where density was not so intense. During the past few years many of the taller pines—3o to 90ft high—have blown over during abnormal winds, and, being about 38 years old—the recognised maturing age locally of the remarkable pine—advantage was taken of a satisfactory offer to mill the stand. The assessment of standing timber volume gives rather an erroneous idea of an actual yield in sawn wood, particularly when boles are converted into small fruit and packing cases, necessitating a great accumulation of sawdust. THE TIMBER MILLED.

“The standing volume of timber over the 40 acres, including anticipated

wastage, was estimated at 33,000 sup. feet per acre; but actual records show that only 18.000 sup. feet (mostly casewood) have been milled per acre in addition to 21£- cords of slab and branch firewood. From the whole area some 883.650 sup. feet of pine; 24.552 sup. feet gum ; 18,812 sup. feet Oregon, and 1052 cords of firewood have been milled, for which royalty to tho extent of £2654 19s Las been received, thus showing a direct revenue from contract cutting of £54 3s 9d per acre. “Royalty was recoverable on the following basis; pine, 5s 2d per 100-sup. j feet; oregon 6s per 100 sup. feet; gum. 6s per 100 sup. feet, and slab and waste timber at os per cord. i