FROM WASTE TO WEALTH.

Putaruru Press, Volume VI, Issue 233, 19 April 1928, Page 1

FROM WASTE TO WEALTH.

World’s Greatest Tree-Planting Effort From Nursery to Permanent Stand Best Trees Only Selected After Hardening-Off

No. VIII. As the planting season is now fast approaching, a brief sketch of the methods employed by this, the biggest afforestation company in the ■world, should be of particular interest. In the first place it must be mentioned that, contrary to popular belief, planting operations are not commenced on a vast scale as soon as the weather breaks in the autumn of each year. It is not only rain that is required, but frosts, and good solid ones at that. This may seem a peculiar statement, but the reason for it being desirable that there should he severe frosts before planting operations are set going in full swing is quite a simple one. In the Nursery. While in the nursery the young trees are naturally planted so close together that they shelter one another, and are thus to a certain degree forced. Were young trees grown under such conditions suddenly moved after the first rain, and planted out on bleak terrain—for it must not be forgotten that the country which gives such wonderful growth of trees is a vast, cold, waste, useless for other purposes—the first severe frost would probably kill many trees, as they are planted many feet apart, and often in areas which afford no shelter. Thus, after severe frosts have settled on the nurseries, which by the way are scattered over the huge area to be planted so that the young trees may be thoroughly acclimatised', the seedlings become hardened-off despite the close manner in which they are ' grown,' and so are better able to withstand the rigors of their first winter without shelter. It is only by careful attention to this and many other similar points that the New Zealand Perpetual Forests, Ltd., has secured the wonderful success they' have in their planting operations. A success which has been a delight to the many hundreds of visitors who have inspected the plantations, and is also the envy of their competitors. A Careful Selection. To further harden the young trees off, and to stimulate the development of fibre, they are wrenched several times at intervals prior to the planting season. Then when the word is given that the conditions required have taken place, and the planters are on the job, the young trees are carefully picked over, and only the best developed specimens are taken. Of the balance, the weedy type are rejected, and the remainder are left in the nursery beds, after suitable thinning, or are lined out to provide two-year-old stock for blanking-in any gaps for next season. The selected trees are done up in bundles of 50, are then well padded tc keep the roots moist, and heeled In ready for packing. The seedlings are next packed in petrol cases, usually 1000 to 1200 to a box, whilst the 2-year-stock, which is too large to go in the boxes, is put into sacks with the tops rolled down. Heroic Lorry Drivers. Particular care is taken to ensure the arrival of the trees on to the planting area in good condition, without any bruising, sweating or drying oL the roots. The trees are ► then carried expeditiously by motor l° rr y, cart and sledge to convenient where they are picked up by the planters. As may be guessed, the roads in such outlying areas bek come unspeakably bad in the middle

of winter, and the fact that the lorries get through regularly and without delay reflects great credit on the drivers and the manful way in which they carry out their jobs. The Notching System.

The main planting is carried out on the notching system, this being rendered possible, by the exceptionally favourable factors of the locality. It is of course an important advantage to be able to employ so rapid and comparatively easy a method of planting, which, whilst giving excellent results, materially reduces costs, and enables extensive areas to be covered in a comparatively short time. It is also a material assistance to have such a long planting season, lasting as it does in this locality, so well favoured with an abundant rainfall, for five and sometimes six months.

With some species, such as yellow western pine, Douglas fir, and Weymouth pine, it is generally necessary to use 2-year-old trees. It is often, however, a matter of some difficulty to keep the growth of insignis down to manageable size, so rapid is its growth in this area. Planting Distance.

The trees are carried by the planters in canvas bags, so as to avoid all unnecessary exposure of the roots, and strict instructions are issued as to setting the roots in a natural position, and at the correct depth. The standard planting distance for insignis is now nine feet each way. In 1926 an eight-foot spacing was used, but this was changed in 1927 in view of the extremely rapid growth of this species. The main difficulty to be contended with after planting consists of severe frosts which are liable to occur at any time up to Christmas, or even later in exceptional cases. On the slopes, and where there is a light covering of fern and manuka, the tiees rarely suffer from this cause, but on the flats and open ground, a succession of severe frosts is liable to cause some damage, though, thanks to the hardening-off: process insisted on in the nurseries, losses from this cause have been reduced to a minimum. Once the young trees have settled down and secured a roothold in their final bed, all danger is passed.

Cutting Lines. On the moist slopes, with deep ;; soil, the growth of fern is often very t dense and high, running up to 11 and * 12 feet in some instances, and it is often difficult to burn it off- in the j process of clearing. In such cases it is necessary to cut lines through it for planting, and these lines have, subsequently to be kept open to prevent the young trees from being smothered. The extent of these lines often average one mile to the acre. During the first season the young trees do not as a rule put on much growth, though under specially favourable conditions they may grow as much as twelve or fifteen inches, their" energies during this period being mainly, devoted to establishing a firm root system. After the first season, however, they begin to grow with great rapidity, and in some cases attain a height of 10 to 12 feet, three years after planting. Their appearance in general is remarkably healthy and vigorous, sickly or weakly trees being a great rarity. Visitors Amazed. ' Visitors to the area almost invar(Continued in Next Column)

iably express tlieir amazement, though very, very few of them are able to see personally more than a tithe of the whole operations, and it is doubtful even after a visit if they fully grasp its magnitude. This very difficulty of realising on how large a scale the operations actually are is of itself a tribute to the smooth and efficient working of the organisation of N.Z. Perpetual Forests, Ltd., for the company always seeks to avoid “ red tape,” and is ever ready to try out new ideas or listen to helpful criticism or suggestions. It is by such means that the N.Z. Perpetual Forests, Ltd., has secured world-wide recognition as the pioneer, and most successful afforestation company in the world, whose methods are copied in a greater or lesser degree by all other similar companies.