PLANTATIONS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LVI, Issue 6498, 24 December 1881, Page 3

PLANTATIONS.

(Ottnisrbtiry Ttsus.) In a new country like this toe subject of planting and the management of plantations unecessarily one open which not much really practical knowledge has as jet been gathered. Experience which hss been gained m one country can seldom be applied, without modification, in another country where circumstances arc in some important points widely different. Nevertheless a man of intelligence, who is well acquainted with the nature and habits of trees, is at a great advantage, compared with one altogether new at the work, though he may be called upon to apply his experience to natural conditions vsry dissimilar to what he has been accustomed. The Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland devotee much attention to the subject of plantations, and it would seem, judging from the papers which appear in the “Transactions” of that Society, that large areas of what has hitherto been pastoral land, are being enclosed and planted. One of the conditions laid upon the contributors to the journal of the Highland and Agricultural Society is that the information given must be the result of the writer’s own observations, so toat mere theoretical writing is debarred, and the result is that the papers are of a highly practical .character. The lentil volume of the fourth series of the “Transactions” contains a paper on the management of plantations by Mr Wilkie, a forester of great experience, and wo think that a brief summary of that writer's will not be wanting in interest and practical value to landowners in the Colony, who are engaged in the work of planting. Mr Wilkie does not pretend to lay down hard and fast rules to be applied under all circumstances. He is careful to remark that much depends upon climate, exposure, state and class of soil, Ac., and he has found that the best guide to the planter ia to study nature as far as it lies in hi® power. If any given kinds of trees are planted on soil, and subject to temperature and exposure similar to where they are found growing naturally it generally leads to sacoessiul results. Draining u all important on land where there is any stagnant moisture, otherwise the water petrifies the natural sap of the plants, and combined with atmospheric influences, generates insects which attack the roots and fibres of the tree*. For high elevation, especially when the soil i* of a hard gravelly nature, Mr Wilkie recommend* a very careful selection of plants. He has found it a good plan to distribute hssel and birch plentifully among conifers, as they are almost certain to grow, and afford shelter while erti’ig as nurses for the conifers. Tinder MrWiUde’s system pruning is begun as soon as the branches meet, and the principle on which it it conducted is not to allow the trees to touch one another. The margins of plantations are well thinned out, so as to let those trees that are left get well established on the ground. The hardwood tree* are inspected, and the heavy branches foreshortened, and the double or treble tope are also cut off, leaving the one most closely connected with the main item. In some ease* close cutting off is adopted, while others ore only oat half-way down the doable top. If the main leader is well branched, the former process is adopted, and the latter is S branched. The double tope of the <re are cut off during the middle month of autumn, as then they do not bleed. No age ean be stated at which the thinning of plantations ought to begin, this being a matter which depends chiefly upon th* Sawth of the trees. Mr Wilkie finds that s safest guide is not to allow the trees to touch each other. Previous to thinning a plantation, bo goes orsr it tbs year preceding, and after selecting, prunes all hi* standards which he intends to leave, acting upon the principle of balancing the tree# os fairly a* possible. Mr Wilkie gives some interesting foots regarding a plantation which has been under bis management for a great number of years. It is 206 acres in extent, and OSOft above sea level. The higher parts were planted to Scotch fir, larch, and spruce. The hill on which the plantation was formed was of a somewhat conical shape. On the north side Scotch fir, larch, spruce, and silver fir, with a few oak, elm, ana ash were planted j on the east side Scotch fir, larch, spruce, and ash only; on the south sides larch, oak, spruee and silver fir j on the west side, a mixture of all the plants mentioned. The first thinning took place al the age of eight year*. At this stage th* Scotch fire on the highest ground measured 4|ft in height, and 4fin in girth* afoot from the ground. Larch and spruce Sift in height and bin in girth. On the hill sides all round th* Scotch firs averaged 6ft in height and S)in in girth 5 larch and silver fire 7ft ia height and 6in in girth 5 spruce 6ft In height and S|in in girth. The oak, elm, and ash averaged in height, 51ft, and in girth in. Mr Wilkie gives the measurement of the treat at various stage* of their growth up to 45 years. At this stage the conifer* averaged about 48|ft in height and 48ia ia girth, the herd woods 4Sft in height end 88ia in firth. It wee then considered time thet the standards only should be left in the wood, and all

excepting them were cut down, leaving on an average 7Q trees per acre. At the end of the first 8 yean after planting, the total expense of the plantation was estimated at £2IOO. The number of trees planted in the first place was 668,000, at tbs e; d of 45 years after the final thinning, there were 14,350. Atli years of age lr.e value of wood thinned ont was £62 11s; at 16 years, £1069 At 22 years the value of thinnings was £755 ; at S 6 years, £4178; at 80 years, something over £lBoO, and at the end of 45 making a total, in round numbers, of £ll,Olß. This is the amount actually realised from the side of wood, except £135 worth which was used on the property.