Manawatu Herald TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 1921. NEW ZEALAND’S BURNT FORESTS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 2254, 22 March 1921, Page 2

Manawatu Herald TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 1921. NEW ZEALAND’S BURNT FORESTS.

A SCATHING denunciation of flic waste of New Zealand's timber — and limiter prospects —was the parting message of Professor I'.. 11. Wilson, of Arnold Arboretum, Harvard University, who recently left New Zealand for Tasmania. He stated that lie could not lind words to express his opinion of the iiiagnilude of the offence the people had committed, and were still, in some decree, commit tiny where land was required and suitable for farming purposes, the limber had to be deneed: but lie bad been appalled by t he spectaeh —which seemed in bis eyes continually, wherever there lind been limber —of “stark, burnt trunks.” Valuable forest bad been burnt off land which was of little value for grazing, and which would not long retain even Mini value. The New Zealand forest trees, especially the conifers, developed on their roots the nodules of nitrogen-lixing bacteria, such its are familiar to gardeners as a peculiarity of the leguminous plants, ami which greatly enrich the soil. These bacteria and the value they imparted to the ground were destroyed by the burning. And the stripping of the forests from the hills inevitably meant the loss of soil, which was washed away by the rain, so that the land wns impoverished, and harbours were silted up. Unless this policy of wanton destruction by lire was stopped, the country could give up all hope of having any forests of commercial value. The country could not have both forests and tires. Public opinion might check the destruction, hut he though what was needed was a stringent tireprevention law, very strictly enforced. New Zealand was a most beautiful country, with fm enviable climate: but the present method of. den ling with the forests was a short cut to the destruction of both the country and the climate. New Zealand should set up and follow a new motto- —“use, not abti.-o, the bush.”