TIMBER TREES.

Waikato Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1622, 25 November 1882, Page 4

TIMB ER TREES.

.Sycamore (Acer pseudo-platanus, L.)— The sycamore is one of tho hardiest timber trees, and prows well on most soils and situations. When of gic.it age, if of fail quality, it commands a high pi ice Cabnetmakois gi\o fabulous juices foi some trees ot huge dimensions. It i* hugely n.sod for vonceis, and is stained in imitation of\aiimu> woods. On <ie count of this it is dillioult to estimate tht time at which it ought to be foiled. 1 ainawaic, howo\oi, that is is piolitabh to cut it at any ago after 40 ycau. At this age it is suitable for bairel staves, and would exceed in value any crop of laid). It is also an excellent coppice wood, springing readily and ntpidly from the stools, and in many cases glowing irom 4 to G feet in length in one season 13ut, eonsideiing the \aluc of a cubiu loot of good old timber, it would be mon pi oli table not to be felled until the tice was niatuicd, which, in good soil and sheltcicd situations, it would be when the tiee was about 120 yeais of age ; but on poor soil and exposed situations it w ill mature eailier, and should be cut down •« hen it shows signs of maturity. In good dry soil and moderately shel tcied, with medium altitude, it may be planted at Hi feet apait, with nurses af 4 feet iipait; and on thin or poor soil, ■with moi c exposed situation, 11 or l'J feet apai t, and the nurses filled in to .'! feet. Acer Campestre, L., extends from Middle Euiopc to North Asia. This tree attains a height of 40 to 50 leet in good deep soil, with shelteied position. The yellow and purple tints of the autumn loliage of this tree lender it at that season p.uticulaily beautiful, which would make this tiee veiy suitable foi planting in hedge-rows. The tree stands tiimming well, it is of eompaiatnely quick giowth, and easily laised fiom seed. The wood is compact and Jine-giained, and much sought after foi choice liunituie. These remarks apply to almost all kinds of maples, of which theie are a gieat number both in Noith and South America ; also Japan alone could furnibh 2."> species. Acer .Saccharinum, Wang. — In the colder lattitudes of Noith America this tice is one of the laigest of the maples, attaining a height of 80 to 100 tcet. The wood is ot a iosy tinge, and when knottj or cuily fiu niches the bhds eye maplewood w liich is co gieatly pn/cd bj cabinetmaker. These tiees yield the baecli.u me fluid w hich is so extensively com cited into maple sugai. The sugai maple is noh in pota&h ; it alao furnishes a Mipeiior charcoal. L'lcinc Tieo (Platanus Oiientahs, L.). — Thio tice is oi i.ipid giowth, attaining a height of 1)0 to 100 feet. It is deciduous, like the other plane trees, and prefers l.Uherdiy giouud, not i lmjuii ing much watci. The timber 1-. well adapted foi Jui nituro and all other kinds ot cabinet woik. Jts habitit is South Euiopo and .Middle A'-i.i. This tiee lias a line appearante, and is well ad.ipted lor lining load sides, and foi planting in cities in lines ol htieet-s, \.c, aa tho soot and dust do not allect it much. I'l.il.uius Occidentals, L. (the Noith Anit'iiuii I'lane ) — Tins tiee ia inoie eligible as an a\cuuc tiee than as a tinibu tice. It sometimes aUains a dianiett rot 1 t leet m the stem. The wood ]-> of a dull led colour, and is also used bj cabinetmakers. The Calitorm.ui I'hne (Platanus i.utmoM, Tsuttall). — Tlic wood of this tiee is h.u del, and thus moie dui.iblc, iii.vi that of P. Oeudantalis ; also less liable to waip. ijinii 1 , oi Linden Tiee (Tili.i Huropnu). ■ — '1 Ins tiee, though pi obably not a tiuly lit tijh tne, is \u^ common m the woods and hedge lows, and has been foi t cntuiies planted m avenues ami paiks. Tt is well litUd to I< nd its shadow to the public piou'oiiiide, loi it be.us the smoke ottheutv, well, it-5 only defect being that it is late in lonnng into leaf, and cue ol tlu hist to -shed its foliage, looking and \i How long betoie the * It ii oi beach is showing a tinge of the iuiliuiin.il blown. Jlisa i.nounto tiee foi axcuucs on the Continent, and is laigely planted in Holland anil (Jerniany. They owe sonic ot then lime-walks in lOngl md doubtlcs to John E\elyn, who, m his "Njhd, ' iccoinmended its cultitie Joi this pin pose. Jfc descubes tiees giowing in Suit/eil.md, (Jeimany, and Jl ungai 3' as attuning an immense si/c and aftei lcfonmg to the esteem m which the tiee is held by the people ot those couutnes, as it was b}- the ancient .Romans, adds—' 1 It is a shamelul negligence that tlioj weie no better pioudcd with nui^eiies lot a tiee so uioici ,md so unhoi sally acceptable. At that time thue weic no plantations ot >oung limes in England, and oiu coaiiti} men piocuied these plants fiom Holland and Flaudeis. This i^ something bkuoui position. How m.my ol oui nui^eij men could .supply us with them? J v ish we had a. John Evelyn to stu uj) n'li Citj Kathcis to plant a few thiough our city [L)unedn)| — .si} r if we had one or tuo in tlie Octagon, instead ot thoie miseiable tilings th it do no duty as ornamental tiee 5 ; tRie at pieseut. Better a tiee that would thine in the city undei the soot, and dust, although bate of leaves halt the \.uu, than anc\ergici i n tieo to be c* ci co\eied by soot and dust, and ne\ei gieen oi tin i\ ing. Bettci to have a tree to thiow o/i its leaves and dust, and start again e\ciy spang licsh and vigoious, with beautiful g.-cen foliage dining summer, and tho no less beuutifiil autumnal tinge. Besides, the tree may come in time to answ ci ior the same puipose as the famous linden tiees m local lustouas and in poc.t)y— like that under which M.utin Luthei stood and preached the doetiinc of the Retoi motion, or that huge ticcat Fiibouig, whicli cominemoiates the victoiy ot t!ie Swiss o\ei Chailes the Uold in J J7(i. JMeljn desciibes this Ins f.uouuto tree in the mobt animated man i\cv--" Is thuic. ' <mys he, " a nioie ravishing or delightful object than to behold some entile streets and whole town-, planted with tlie^e tiees in even lines befoic their doors, so as they even seem like cities in a wood ?" Evelyn also mentions a book wiitten on the bai k of the hine, which w .s bi ought to tho ('ountol S Ainant, (Joxemoi oi Anas, in IGO.', loi which the Empeior gave 8000 duraU. Jt contained a woik ol (.lctio, " Dc Oldin Mida llepubbea, et de in\ enicudis Oi.itionuni Knohlus," ,i piece iucslimable, but nexei |»üblished, and now in the hbi.uy at \ lenna, after it Jiail been the gieatcst lanty m that of the late Caulinal Ma/arm. The timber of t lie lime tice it, light, wnooth, closogiained, and not liable to be worm eaten. Wuious bo\es, scicens, and othci ai tides on which ladies paint (low cis are made of this wood, and it i-. \ alucd ljy carvers foi ornamental woik. Many ot the screens in palices and uithcdials aio foimcd of this wood ; and those ail y wreaths of flow oi. •> caived ljy the skilful hand of (irinling Cibbons, which no aitist since )iis mailed in giace and beauty, arc made of lime-wood. In the choir of >S. Paul's Cathedialare .some exquisite specimens of this woi!-., and some veiy delicate and elegant w i oaths adorn Trinity College, Cambridge. Aitists have the seribblets foi thcii Jiist diaughts made of lime-wood ; and when burned, it forms one of the best charcoals for making gunpowder. Turners, toy-makers, and various artisans use it in their works. Spanish Chestnut (Castauea Vesca). — The 8w eet chestnut is a tree that never attains, veiy large dimensions* even in iavonrable soils and situations. The wood is durable and useful for many purposes, and the tree, from its rapid giowth, is well adapted for planting among others which requite longer < time < to mature, as it can be thinned out at from 20 to 30 years of age. It is then fit for any purpose to which the timber is applicable. This tree has been known toyie'd a larger profit per aeie than larch, &rid requires many years less time 'to mature ■than tho latter. It was generally bc'ljeved, until recently, that the timber of :fchis tree was used in roofing Westmims- • Hull, 'as well as that bf several J catiie-

drals in Fnncc, birfc they now are found Lo bo of the timber of Durmast oak. Horse Chestnut (iEsculus hippocastanus).—Tliis tree is a rapid grower, but of little use for timber. The wood is soft, and not durable, and may be used, like Llie willow and poplar, for railway bi'iikeb, agricultural implements, saddlers' cutting ))o.n ds, patterns, &c. It can be leeommended for law us, .avenues, ro.ul sides, plantations, and solitary trees in pai Ks. It requires good soil and sheltered situation. Though a haidy tree as ieir,ud& cold, 3et the young wood is so brittle as Lo bieak under ordinal y storms. It can only be felled with pioiit when ot large dimensions, w hich in good soil would be when about SO yeais old. It may be planted about the same distance apart as the sycamores, from 12 to 1G feet. .Alder (Alnusglutinosa). — The wood of the alder is moie valuable now than it was wont to be. It is in great demand for hci ring-barrel staves and heads. It is now as valuable as the best larch. Twenty years ago alder was scarcely woith felling, except for bobbins, powder-w-orKs, &c. It tlnivcs best in damp soils, along the margins of lakes and streams, and can be cat to advantage after a grow th of HO yeaifa. Being a tree of not very great dimensions, and in most cases cut down before an iving at old age, it may planted moderately close. In sheltered situations and dampish soil — tree fiom stagnant water, however — it may be planted at 12 ioct apart, with nurses 4 feet apart ; and on poor soil and high elevations at !) feet apait, and filled in with niuseb to 3 feet apait. — "l'inus" in