The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1928 FOREST RESEARCH.

Hokitika Guardian, 27 February 1928, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1928 FOREST RESEARCH.

Thk report on the work in Westland with regard to forest research, supplied to a Christchurch paper by Mr C. E. Foweraker, lecturer in charge of the Canterbury College School of Forestry, is of interest as again calling to mind the exceedingly slow rate at whic-h a. forest regenerates or reafforestation can be carried out. Air Foweraker has l>een interested now in the matter for some five years, and doubtless he will agree that the situation may he summed up in the memorable words of Cecil Rhodes when reflecting on his life’s achievements: “So little done, so much to do.” The policy of the Forest Service is called to mind by a study of Mr Foweraker's comments. The slow regeneration of the native forest or the growing of introduced trees, involves a phase of the policy as to the right kind of tree to attempt to grow. Apart from the five years’ experience of study by the Forest Service, there is information available now as to a period of half a century of forest growth, if that avenue were to be explored. On that account it seems high time for the Service to determine the most economic course to follow in regard to tree-growing. The data now being secured through the ramifications of the Service it-

sell, must bo very costly information. And particularly costly, too, when the valuable information obtainable over lilty years is already at hand. We wonder how much wiser the Forest Service is alter live years of very costly operations, than the average botanist would be who devoted hi.s scientific jesearch to afforestation which had been going on inexpensively and unostentatiously by the ordinary planter 1 I trees. There are many belts of artilieial forest up and clown New Zealand, which should alien I without expense and delay vital information v. hich the scientists attracted to the Forest Service are groping for by experimental work over the last live years. In our own districts there are examples of forest growth and treeplanting which are there to reveal important secrets as to growth to those who care to study the position in detail. If we take a note of the present artificial effort in Westland at tree-growing under the very expensive system adopted by the Forest Service, wo must he alarmed at the results in relation to the cost. While it is true cultivated stock at the Hokitika river nursery thrives greatly, the. planting out of the exotics along tlio Ross road is a dismal failure. And the point arises, that if there were hopes at ■ultimate success, i,n that trees would materialise, are the tight kind of trees being planted to realise the best return? Many of the soft wood trees over which money and time are being wasted so lavishly, are not durable or generally useful timbers. Better service trees should be taken in band, and surely there is enough knowledge or data on this point from the growth of plantations here, there and everywhere in New Zealand to cause the Forest Service to avoid such costly experiments. Afforestation and reafforestation is sound procedure in a country's life, but the scheme .should not he a scatter cash one, a wasting of financial resources to achieve doubtful and even inadequate returns. Many of the questions which are presenting themselves to the mind of Mr Foweraker in his research work could surely be 1 answered by the average hushninn without cost or delay. Westland has been logged and burned over sixty years now. Round about Hokitika was some of the best forest growth of Westland. Those wins operated U could reveal a practical knowledge ot its resources and powers of recuperation. Trees have been planted hereabouts over many years without special cost. Their existence to-day tell Ihe story of their lives and habits in the pa it i< -11 l;i r class < I soil where they exist. Tiny are on the river Hats, on hillsides', on the pakihis, and in swamp lands. To the deeply versed scientist they should unfold a story readily to he told. We wonder why more is not made of this side of the teseaich ill lieu of the present costly process. Income from the timber wealth of the Dominion is being eaten up by tens of thousands of pounds to maintain a costly department which has little or nothing to show in return for the great expenditure. If wo measure the value of the services given by ihc worth of the trees appearing here and there along the Boss Road, what extravagant figures shall we use to convey the answer? Is it not all an administrative farce of wasteful ox--1 remit iure ?