PLANTATIONS. (Canterbury Times.)

Waikato Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1483, 5 January 1882, Page 3

PLANTATIONS. ( Canterbury Times .)

Ik a new country like this, the subject of planting and the manage s.ent of plantations is necessarily one upon which not much really practical knowledge has yet been gathered. Experience which has been gained in one country can seldom be applied, without modification, in another country where circumstances are in some important points widely different. Nevertheless a man of intelligence, who is well acquainted w itli the nature and habits of trees, is at a great advantage, compared with one altogether new at the work, though he may be called upon to apply his experience to natural conditions very dissimilar to what he has been accustomed. The Highland and Agricultural f- Society of Scotland devotes much attenv <klion to the subject of plantations, and it £ would seem, judging from the papers wliich appear in the "Transactions of that Society, that large arrears of what has hitherto been pastoral land, are being enclosedand planted. Oneoftheconditions laid upon the contributors to the journal of the Highland and Agricultural .Society is that the information given must be the result of the writer's own observations, so that more theoretical writing is debarred, and the result is that the papers are of a highly practical character. The tenth volume of the fourth series of the ♦•Transactions" contains a paper on the management of plantations by Mr Wilkie, a forester of great experience, and we think that a brief summary of that writer's will not be wanting in interest and practical value to landowners in the colony, who are engaged in the Work of planting. Mr Wilkie does not pretend to lay down hard and fast rules to be applied under all circumstances. He is careful to remark that much depends upon climate, exposure, state and class of soil, &c, and he has found that the best guide to the planter is to study nature as far as it lies in his power. If any given kinds of trees ai'e planted on soil, and subject to temperature and exposure similar to where they are found growing naturally it generally leads to successful results. Draining is all important on land where there is any stagnant moisture, otherwise the water purifies the natural sap of the plants, and combined with atmospheric influences generates insects which attack the roots and fibres of the trees. For high elevation, especially when the soil is of a hard gravelly nature, Mr Wilkie recommends a very careful selection of plants. He has found it a good plan to distribute hazel and birch plentifully among conifers, as they are almost certain to grow, and afford shelter while acting as nurses for the conifers. Under Mr Wilkie's system pruning is begun as soon as the branches meet, and the principle on which it is conducted fs not to allow the trees to touch one another. The margins of plantations are well thinned out, so as to let those trees that are left get well established on the ground. The hardwood trees are inspected, and the heavy branches foreshortened, and the double or treble tops are also cut off, leaving the one most closely connected with the main stem.. In some cases close cutting off is adopted, while others are only cut half-way down the double top. If the main leader is branched, the former process is adopted and the latter is badly branched. The double tops of the conifers are cut off during the middle month of autumn, as then they do not bleed. No age can be stated at which the thinning of plantations ought to begin, this being a mitter which depends chiefly upon the growth of the trees, Mr Wilkie finds that the safest guide is not to allow the trees to touch each other. Previous to thinning a plantation, he goes over it the year preceding, and after selecting, prunes all his standards which he intends to leave, acting upon the principle of balancing the trees as fairly as possible. Mr Wilkie gives some interesting facts regarding a plantation which has been under his management for agreat number of years. It is 203 acres in extent, and 605 ft. above sea level. The higher parts were planted to Scotch fir, larch, and spruce. The hill on which the plantation was formed was of a somewhat conical shape. On the north side Scotch fir, larch, spruce, and silver fir, with a few oak, elm, and ash were planted ; on the east side Scotch fir, larch, spruce, and ash only ; on the south side, larch, oak, spruce and silver fir ; on the west side, a mixture of all the plants mentioned. The first thinning took place at the age of eight years. At this stage the Scotcli firs on the highest ground measured 44ft. in height, and 4Jin. in girth, a foot from the ground. Larch and spruce s^ft. in height and sin. in girth. On the hill sides all round the Scotch firs averaged 6in. in height, ando£in. in girth ; larch and silver firsTft. in height and 6in. in girth; spruce 6ft. in height and s£in. in girth. The oak, elm, and ash averaged in height, s^ft., and in girth 4.V in. Mr Wilkie gives the measurement of the trees at various stages of their growth up to 45 years. At this stage the conifers averaged about4BAft. in height and 43in. in girth, the hardwoods 43ft. in height and 38in. in girth. It was then considered time that the standards only should be left in the wood, and all excepting them were cut down, leaving on an average 70 trees per acre. At the end of the first 8 years after planting, the total expense of the plantation was estimated at £2100. The number of trees planted in the first place was 568,000, at the end of 45 years after the final thinning, there were 14,350. At 11 years of age the value of wood thinned out was £52 Us; at 16 years, £1069. At 22 years the value of thinnings was £755 ; at 26 years, £4178 ; at 30 years, something over £1800, and at the end of 45 years, £3129, making a total, in round numbers, of £11,018. This is the amount actually realised from the sale of wood, except £135 worth which was used on the property.