VALUE OF TREE-PLANTING.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 April 1921, Page 7

VALUE OF TREE-PLANTING.

IMPORTANCE TO FARMERS. ADDRESS BY MR. MAXWELL. Mr. E, Maxwell of Opunake, who is recognised throughout New Zealand as an authority on the question, gave a very interesting address on Wednesday night to the members of the Bel] Block branch of the Farmers’ Union on the important question of tree-planting for farmers. Mr. Maxwell said that afforestation as generally advocated, applied to the planting of areas for timber purposes only, but tree planting as it applied to farmers could be merged into three branches, viz., beautifying, shelter and the supply of general farm requirements. Hitherto, he. said, the policy of the department ■ had been one of centralisation, i.e., extensive plantations in one or two localities. He was pleased to note that a decided change was taking place and that there was a much greater tendency to encourage planting by farmers and others throughout the Dominion. *He considered that the results to be derived from having one or two large plantations could not be as satisfactory as local planting, for many reasons, one of the greatest being the benefit from the climatic point of view. It was necessary in each district that as much land as could be spared should be under forest for the conservation of the water supply and the maintenance of a reasonable amount of humidity. Then there was also the general beautification and also the very important question of the provision of shelter for stock, as well as the provision of a handy supply of timber, etc., required on farms and also the general needs of the district. In large plantations the thinnings were of no value, and indeed were expensive to deal with, whereas’ on a farm everything was of value.

SHELTER FOR STOCK. He considered no farm was properly equipped unless it had arf adequate supply of shelter for its stock. In a- district like this, subject to sudden changes of weather, lack of shelter was very serious to stock from the point of view of health, delay in fattening and decrease in milk yield. He pointed out that during the recent rough weather 19 out of 20 herds had dropped considerably in yield, but he knew of one 1 herd which had not dropped owing to the good shelter. It must be obvious to all that feeding could not keep up the yield if after a tine spell cattle had to stand exposure to westerly and southerly winds. Yet, despite this, many farms had no shelter and on others the shelter was quite inadequate. Another great advantage of suitable timber growing was that the farmer had all he required in the way of timber quite handy. He could fill in his slack time in cutting his supplies of posts, battens, etc., and. in this connection he emphasised the necessity for cutting all his timber in the winter. He had from an area of one-sixth of an acre cut 500 posts, 25 stringers, several hundred rails, besides several cords of firewood. Thus a farmer could obtain all, his fuel, posts, battens, etc., and later on have timber to sell or build with, and he instanced a case in the Auckland district where from a farm valued at £lOOO over £l5OO was obtained by the sale of pinus insignia that had been planted in gullies, etc. He also pointed out the value of tree-, growing as a means of smothering blackberry infested areas. Land that was of inferior quality, broken and infested with blackberry could not possibly be turned into grass land, and he was satisfied that the only reasonable solution was to smother the weed by a plantation of over-shadowing pinus insignis, which would not only kill the blackberry by shutting out the light but would grow into an immensely valuable crop ef timber.

GROWING SUITABLE TREES. In going in for the planting, they had first t® consider what were their requirements and then had to decide on a class of tree which, under the greatest variety of climate and soil, would give the greatest bulk of timber that would be as nearly suitable for the purpose. In other words, don’t grow timber that would be first-class for the purpose but would take 100 years to grow, when they could get a timber which, while not quite so good, would only take 20 years. Having settled the class of timber, they must then go in for the particular tree most suited to the district. Pinus Insignia, he said, was the most rapid growing tree. Moreover, it would grow from the North Cape to the Bluff, on the hills or in the valleys, on the sea coast or inland, and on the poorest land. Up to seven or eight years of age it was almost useless, making only inferior firewood. After that it made fair firewood, and the older trees made very fair firewood. Up to twelve years it made excellent case timber, running the white pines very close, and later, after about 30 years, made excellent building timber.

Redwood (sequoia qempervirens) was an excellent building and furniture timber, and was the only tree that he would put in to replace the kauri, which was/ practically done. A remarkable feature of this tree in New Zealand was its consistency. It had been examined in Westland, Marlborough, Wairarapa, Rotorua and Tauranga and the growth was practically an inch diameter yearly 4 feet from the ground. They, however, tapered very quickly. It was valuable for its superior timber, and also because it grew in any part of New Zealand. • $ The Black Wattle (acacia decurrens) was not classed as a timber tree, because its maximum diameter was 2 feet. It was a very hardy grower, and made the finest firewood possible, rata not having a look in with it. Every twig was good kindling wood. Tt made good rails and battens. Posts from a ten-year-old tree would last ten years in the ground. When he cut the sixth of an acre previous!}’ mentioned the trees were twelve years old. He had cut two poles the other day, 25ft long by bin, for electric light poles. They were, in fact, suitable for all farm purposes. BIG RANGE OF GUMS. Coming to the gums, he-said there were 609 gums species and varieties, ■•.inie were vers’ slow. They could be •■"(hieed to about 40 for all practical pm*poses. Of these ho considered the Eucalyptus Obliqua (stringy bark) a standard tree. It would grow throughout Now Zealand and in very poor land. In reasonable planta I’.ons it would glow as straight as a billiard cue with very little taper. Some were now 60 feet high and up to 10 inches through after 14 years growth, and they carried practically no branches. It could be grown

the timber the Hobart shingles and palings came from, as it was easily split. It was not suitable for fencing as a young tree. His trees were grown from seeds of trees at Waiongona. These trees were not more than 21 years old and ranged from 19 inches to 31 inches. It was absolutely necessary to pick the trees from which seed was taken. His trees were growing from 2 feet to 4 feet apart. Eugenoides was also a fairly hardy tree and most valuable, being very durable when young. ' He, however, deprecated sacrificing for posts a young tree that would grow into useful timber when black wattle, which did not into timber, made great posts. Other varieties y<at he favored were the Fastigata, the Regnans (which was the largest tree in the,world), Gigantea (a mountain variety of the stringy bark and a very dense growing tree, growing right up in the snow and making very rapid growth), the Viminales Resiniftra (which was immensely valuable and a fairly good doer and a high steaming wood, though not an easy burner). Other varieties that he favored were the Macarthurii, Acervuta, Gunnii, and the Sieberiana. He also briefly referred to the- Misrocorys, Coryno-xalyc and the Bobryories.

SOME USEFUL PLANTING HINTS. He also touched on the methods to be adopted for successful growing, stressing the need of shelter, and in this connection he favored planting a belt of pines. Gum seedlings would catch up to three-year-old pines. If they wanted to plant right away he would advise them to secure the plants, but if not they should grow their own gum or wattle seedlings so that, they could plant them in suitable weather. In planting pines they should not spare the knife, but should cut all twisted’ weak and tangled roots. Pine roots should be spread out carefully in the hole and the ground pressed firm. Gums and wattles could be planted quickly. His method was to turn over a sod, make a split in this with a spade, put in the seedling, and press firmly. ’ In raising gum seedlings a smooth surface must be prepared either in a box or a bed, and the seed should be dusted over. Sieve a little earth over and press it down. Wattle seed required boiling water pour-, ed over it and should be allowed to stand for over a night. Seeds should be sown from October to Christmas, but the early sown ones were liable to be too big to transplant now, as it was not advisable to have the seedlings more than a foot high. Tn transplanting they must be careful not to expose the roots of gums and wattles to the air or sun.

He favored growing the trees in blocks so that each kind could be separately dealt with. They should also be planted systematically in rows about 5 feet apart, though he would not lay down a hard and fast rule about the distance. Gum required light, and should be planted by themselves. The whole art of forestry was in thinning; knowing when to remove some before the growth was retarded by obscuring the light or starvation from the roots. This required judgment, which very few possessed, and this was one of the difficulties in regard to big plantations. With a view to preventing wastage of space he suggested that black wattle should be planted with pinus insignis. viz., one row of pinus insignis and black wattle alternately, and then a row of black wattle. The black wattle, every stick of which' was valuable, could later be thinned out, leaving plenty of room for the pinus insignis. In concluding he urged all to go in for planting, and to get away -from the idea that they were planting for their grandchildren, as all the trees he had mentioned were very rapid growers, and would soon prove of value to them. The address, which lasted over two hours, was attentively listened to, and at the conclusion a number of questions were asked and answered. Mr. Maxwell was acorded a hearty vote of thanks for his interesting address.