A FORESTRY PROBLEM.

Shannon News, 12 August 1924, Page 4

A FORESTRY PROBLEM.

EFFORTS TO RETAIN NATIVE TREES., A -serious problem is at present lacing the Forestry Department ,in view of the Cast depletion of tire indigenous forests throughout the Dominion, and tire afforestation aspect of the’ Department’s work is receiving great consideration. A pressman learned yesterday that as the sawmilling activities are con'flifed mainly to the Main Trunk districts, and most of the timber from there goes north, something Will have | to be doiie to provide future supplies lor the timber-hungry regions of

Manawatuy Wairarapa,- and- Taranaki. There remains but few areas of white pine in New Zealand, and Baltic pine is beirig imported: It is in view of ibis-fact that a certain ‘amount of Mmicr planting- sample plots is being undonaken by the Department in order to study the ‘ rate of-growth of th e ind’genous trees for reproduction purposes. The slow growth of the native trees has‘in the 1 past been, so .appar? ent that exotics have had to be emPloyed to retain the supply, and the latter varieties am being continued, pending the result of the investigations in connection with the- indigenous trees, which will occupy several i >C Much of this werk is being.donein j the Manawatu district, and: it is re- < ported from the Palmerston- North office of the Department that good progress is being made -in -the various areas. .