NURSERY PROSPECTS IN TARANAKI.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 June 1921, Page 6

NURSERY PROSPECTS IN TARANAKI.

INTERVIEW WITH MR. GEO. A. GREEN. ORGANISER FOR NURSERYMEN. Mr. Green, who has been In this province for the last few days in connection with the interests of his association, accorded an interview to a reporter, during which some interesting information relative to the progress of the nursery and its cognate Industries were elicited. Mr. Green stated that the nurserymen of this district, and in fart of the whole of the west coast of the North Island had been the first to make a Complete recovery from the late war conditions. This he attributed to the fact that fruit trees (which slumped worst) were never grown as leading lines here The principal classes cf stock cultivated were forest and shelter stuff and ornamental shrubs. Afforestation is a matter the nurserymen take a deep interest in. They have long realised that an efficient Forestry Bill was required, framed so as to foster private plantings by fixing the incident or taxation where it always should have been, i. 0., on the milled timber, and not on the growing forest. Assistance should also be given in the matter of forest fires insurance, etc. The nurserymen appreciate the value of a forest service and are working in hearty co-operation with the State Forest Department, under Captain Ellis. It is confidently expected that the urgency of the timber probleims will be borne in upon the community so strongly that it will produce a large planting campaign, and to meet this the nurserymen are making every provision. SUITABLE FOREST TREES. Asked as to the most suitable forest trees for general planting, Mr. Green gave it as his opinion that for profits and quick results no tree could touch the pinus insignia. It will grow on almost any soil under the most adverse conditions. Planted In gorse and blackberry it will smother them, while fern and second growth does not effect the p.'ne in the least. The tree can be cut in less than 20 years, and attains maturity in 30... Another class of timber tree that deserves more attention is the eucalypti. Several of these have been proved to succeed well in this district. Amongst them are E. Obliqua, A. Kostrata, E. Robusta, and E. Macarthurii, while others are under test. Ti e marcrocarpa (Cyprus) is another tree that produces a large quantity of hardwood timber in a remarkably short space of time. Grown under forest conditions, it Is straight, easily split, and saws into fine scantlings,- it is a timber that will last well as posts, telegraph or electrical poles. ORNAMENTALS. Few parts of New Zealand offer the same inducements to planting as does this, and of the classes of trees most suitable, not a few are of native origin. As the tastes of the people and the general wealth of the nation advances, the love of the beautiful and the love of the esthetic, in connection with the home's surroundings of the people, and their public recreation grounds is steadily on the increase, with the result that the demand for the choicer varieties has increased very much during the last few years. Where once anything in the shape of a shrub would' do, to-day nothing but the best is considered. FRUITING TREES AND PLANTS. In tl.is connection Mr. Green speaks as an authority, as he and his family have been connected with the development of this Industry in New Zealand for over 40 years. He states that in the orcha districts there is every prospect that the export trade will I shortly a and proftMrfrie on®, wtaile

the complete organisation of the Home (markets will give a regular supply all the year round at reasonable prices within New Zealand, successful cool storage Laving opened up a new field altogether in the possibilities of storage and supply of fresh fruit. In the line of fruit trees there ia a steady demand, but no evidence that the tree planting of 1908 to 1915 is likely to return in the near future. PESTS AND DISEASES. There is On increasing need that dose attention should be given to keeping under control those that are here, and that by strict quarantine' control those not yet here should be kept out. The leading men, botb oc!entitle and practical, are all agreed that! the only effective course will be the establishment of & quarantine ora the lines of the] American regulation known aa No. 37, J