The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER THURSDAY, JUNE 1, 1916. EXPERIMENTAL AFFORESTATION

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXX, Issue 49, 1 June 1916, Page 4

The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER THURSDAY, JUNE 1, 1916. EXPERIMENTAL AFFORESTATION

Fifteen years ago the Government decided to try an experiment in afforestation, using prison labour, it was an experiment in several ways—in pri-

suii reform, in afforestation for the provision of timber and in afforestation for the utilisation and improvement of waste lands. The Lyttelton Times recalls the lact that the Earl of Ranfurly planted the first tree at Waiotapu on March 4, 1001. The second was planted by Mi - >l. C. Scanlon, the prison officer in charge oi the camp. For some years Mr Scanlon remained at Waiotapu, taking a great interest in the work. Then lie was transferred, and is now in charge ol flic prisons at Lyttelton and Addington. A little while ago he visited Rotorua on a health-recruiting trip, and took the opportunity of visiting the scene of the old tree-planting camps. The transformation astonished Idm. To a Wellington Post reporter who inquired of him whether the experiment had been a success, he expressed the opinion that, .from tin* afforestation point of view, it had exceeded Ids greatest expectations. The area planted 'is .now, he said, between 2(),000;,a : mb ; 3(),()i)() acres, with about fifty Jt. extends from Waiotapu. ‘the earliest camp, for about' on the Kaiangaroa Plains, 'is now in progress. k "'ell chosen, for there 'S hind available for futifrq;,arc now camps at. and in another, couple (jTt&'hars the whole ' hot ween Rotorua a i be extended, however, for niiiay years to come towards the boundaries of the Urewern Country. The mass planted are larches, bluegums and various kinds '<l pines—Austrian, Corsican, Weymouth, American Redwood, Douglas and others; all valuable timber trees, which will in time vicld great quantities of building material. When Mr Scanlon visited (he plantations, he was astonished at the growth made. Where there were only small trees when he left there are now tall timbers- ISin in diameter and till|'t to lOft high. In Die past year 1

( about £SOO worth of timber has been : taken out in the thinning process, ' which is being carried out sy.-iematie-ally by the forestry Department. The Department, it may be mentioned, took over the care of the plantations, and appointed foresters and caretakers to guard against lires, and generally look to the preservation of the timber. Most of the wood taken out lias been used for* mining props, a purpose' for which the larch is specially suitable, since it is tough timber and will stand a great lateral strain. Later on there will be splendid bluegums for cutting, and Weymouth and Corsican pines, giving valuable building material, from the plantations now growing, at least one quarter of the trees will be marketable as timber; that is, an absolute minimum of over twelve million trees. The asset will in time become a very valuable one to the Stain*, and it is suggested that the Douglas, largely used for paper-making in Canada, might be similarly utilised he re. Ihe appearance of the country is greatly changed for the better by the tree-planting. An important aspect of the scheme is also the beneficial effect on prisoners, and it is alleged by many interested in prison reform that the healthy outdoor life has resulted in the reformation of many men. (

OVr all thoiv hung the shadow of a fear. A son so of niisory Ids visage hauntOtl, ’Which said as plain as whisper in the ear. “With din’ he’s haunted.” lint I will not repine a little bit, Woods’ Peppermint Cure is wanted. He took some—now he’s well and lit, T!ie “lln” avannled