FORESTRY SCHEME.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 2687, 26 January 1924, Page 4

FORESTRY SCHEME.

During the week, Mr Wiekens, curator of reserves for the Christchurch City Council, was in Palmerston North, (says the Times), and prior to his leaving was. motored to the Forestry Department’s area at Oroua Downs, and shown flie work that is being accomplished there. As this scheme has only been going for two years, it is still in its infancy, and time alone will produce practical results. However, the Department will this winter be planting into their permanent places 60,000 trees, which by then Will be two years old, they having been planted out into the temporary nursery last year. It is interesting to note that the Christchurch City Council has for several years had in operation a scheme of forestry which, if continued, will provide a perpetual supply of timber from the end of the maturity period. Three thousand acres are being planted at the rate of 100 acres a year and at the end of the thirty years it is estimated the first lot will be ready to cut. These will be supplemented with another hatch, so that every year there will be available 100 acres of trees to cut. These will be

worth in the vicinity of .€SOO per acre. Under this scheme, which has been in operation for a number of years, several hundreds of acres have been planted, and when matured the trees will be of great benefit to the Council and country. . While at Foxton, Mr Wiekens commented upon the work which was being done on the dunes, and expressed satisfaction at the progress that was being made. The country here, he .said, is rougher than that which is being treated on the dunes in the vicinity of Brighton, and the sand is more barren. The rabbits also, were much more plentiful here than in the south.