DOMINION’S TIMBER

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 646, 24 April 1929, Page 15

DOMINION’S TIMBER

AMERICAN COMMENT A recent issue of the American ‘‘Timberinan” contained a short article on the timber resources of New Zealand. Estimates place New Zealand’s annual consumption of native wood (states the “Timberman”) at G5,000,000 cubic feet, exports at 7,400,000 feet, and imports at 8,700,000 feet, with total consumption of domestic and imported timber at 69,300,000 cubic feet, according to a statement on the forests and forestry in New Zealand received in the department of commerce. Recent investigations tend to indicate that the majority of the forests in New Zealand are overmature, and as a result the loss by decay balances the increment of new growth, it is said. For the purpose of arriving at the probaole life of the Dominion’s timber resources it has been assumed that the normal increase in the rate of consumption is 2 per cent, per annum. The hardwoods will probably be put on a sustained yield basis. “With the possible exception of kauri and beech species, very little hope is entertained of regenerating by natural or artificial means the indigenous forests of New Zealand. The podocarp forests present complications which at times appear almost insurmountable. This type of forest in the North Island is almost without exception over-mature, and no advantage would be gained by adopting a system of selective falling in order to prolong the life of the forest. Many areas are in process of exploitation where the timber is of notably small size, with consequent heavy logging cost and high loss in conversion. If it can be shown that increment on these areas is of appreciable extent, it may well pay to hold such areas from milling at the present time to provide future supplies, and during the interim to appreciate considerably in value, forestry experts believe. The present economic conditions in New Zealand unfortunately preclude the adoption of a system of selective felling, it is said.” Investigations are being brought to maturity and the next conference hopes to have more definite data on this point. Many people turn back a bedspread by merely throwing it over the foot of the bed. A better plan and one which keeps the quilt uncreased aud unerumpled is as follows: Fold top to bottom, thus folding the quilt in half. Then take the two upper corners and fold to the centre of the foot, which will give you a mitre. Turn this point over the rail of the bedstead.

Sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) is the most important ingredient of baking powder, and is itself used as a raising agent in the making of scones, bread and cakes. Used alone, sodium bicarbonate causes a brownish tint. Where this is not desired, a little cream of tartar should be mixed with the bicarbonate, althoxigh it is, cf course, unnecessary with gingerbread, soda cakes, and the like.