CAMBRIDGE MUTUAL IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION.

Waikato Times, Volume XXI, Issue 1722, 19 July 1883, Page 4

CAMBRIDGE MUTUAL IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION.

Artorfoolture. • ; The following interesting paper on Arboriculture was read by Mr W. L. C. Williams at tlic meeting of the above association'on^ Tuesdayt eyenipg , last, :rThe term" Agriculture 'id 'aflplieH, strictly speaking, to forestry, to which I Will, with your permission, confine my remarks. % will commence my essay on ArboricuJfcuVo with the cultivation,' growtti and advantages- of planting coniferous trees. The tnothod I have always adopted, .and which I believe to be the lil'st and cheapest, certainly the most expaditious, (I am spo iking now of planting in large quantities) is :— First be careful to get good fresh seed, then prepare a seed bed, with well prepared old manure, which requires to be well dug in ; rake tin ground very fine, nnd make drills in the ground about an inch deep ; sow the seed thickly in the drills, and keep them clean until they are ready for transplanting. Pino seed should be sown in October. Pinus insignis will be ready for transplanting to its permanent place in the following August. Pines should bo planted out from the seed bed without replanting in seedling beds, as they can be transplanted once without injuring the tap root, which it is advisable, if not necessary, to preserve uninjured ; when the tap root is destroyed the tree makes lateral roots, consequently lateral branches, the tree often becomes overheaded and is blown over, which I have never known to happen when planted straight from the seed bed. My reason for advocating transplanting in August is that I have always found August the best month for planting out young pine trees, I believe mainly on account of the severity of the winter being over, and the earth becoming warm, the trees naturally put forth fresh roots and shoots. Coniferous trees, I believe, iest during the winter months, making neither roots nor shoots, therefore, it transplanted in winter, the frosts dry up the sap and the plants perish. As soon as the young trees aie ready to plant out, select a nice piece of fern laud, with a' short and thin growth of fern on it. Plough two furrows out opposite to one another, in the manner termed " opening out" land ; that will leave a dear run of about three feet in width, then subsoil with an ordinary plough, the mould-board having first been removed and the wing broken off the share. The subsoiling hhould be about seven or eight inches deep, the holes for the plants can be pitched with a heavy stake or crow-bar. The planters can then follow, putting the plants in the holes and tilling the earth around them with an ordinary dib stick. Pines can be planted in small quantities by this method at the small cost of 13s per acre, and in large quantities at 10s per acre. Whereas, any sort of tree which will not flourish in uncultivated land will coot double the amounts here named per acre. The reason why the pine and the fern thrive so well together, and also the reason the pine thrives best in the subsoil is this, they all belong to the primary eras of the Creation. Every man of an agricultural turn ot mind who wishes to become a benefactor to future generations should plant one or more Wellingtonia (Jigantoa, or more properly speaking Soquoia Oiuantca; this tree grows to the height of 400 feet with a diameter as much as 40 feet, this only in rare instances ; it is a native of the Sierra Nevada ; many of these trees have reached the great age of 3000 years. For present purposes, or to be of service during the lifetime ot the planter, the pinus" insignis will be found useful for shade purposes, and for any other purposes to which soft timber is put ; it is I neither a good wood for fuel, nor is it durable. The maritima, orpine of South Europe, likewise the Scotch fir, will both be found quick growing pines, useful for fuel, and durable after they have reached the age of twelve or fourteen years. Larch would be a grand and serviceable timber for this country if it could be more readily propagated. For my part I have always failed to get the seed to germinate. I would also recommend every person who can afford a piece otland for thi' purpose toplantorsow a patch ot the best varieties ot Tasmanian gums ; also the varieties growing on the elevated plateaus of Australia. I mention the plateaus on account of climatic influences. Trees growing naturally in arid regions would just as naturally be unsuitable to our climate, and in all probability be killed by our severe frosts. I do not think it at all desirable that people with small areas of land should plant blue gums for shade purposes, as they send their roots out on the surface for a great length, and consequently impoverish the soil for a large area around each tree, giving no corresponding return in the shape of fallen leaves and twigs. The ordinary golden aecacia, such as we sec growing iv our own district, is a very valuable tree to grow for ornamental shade, and firewood purposes. Id requires neither cultivation nor attention after plautiug, only protection from uattle. Fire only tends to increase them numerically. They w ill he in full beauty after a tiro before the natural growth is ready to take Hr« again, and by that time they will bo better able to resist the tire with the luxut'ioustiess of their natural growth, the fire auain uuly increasing their numbers and aica. The common black wattle of Tasmania is one of the most valuable trees that can be planted, the wood being tough and durable, and suitable f«r almost all wheelwright purposes. The method ot cultivating this most valuable tree is as follows : — The seed tequires scalding and placing between cloth until it shows signs of germininatmg, then sowing in drills in well prepared moist seed beds, when the plants are ready. The land they are intended to be grown in should .be cultivated thoroughly, and sown with grass seed. The accacia plants should be planted out in the month of April nine feet apart eveiy way; in the following spring they will be forward enough for sheep to be turned into the field to eat the grass ; the land can then be continually grazed with sheep. At the end of the third year every other tree can be stripped of its bark ; the trees will avevage about 2T)lbs of bark each. The trees are then cut down for firewood or other useful purposes. The same operation is performed the two following years, the four-year-old trees yielding an aveiage of 35 pounds, and the five-year-old trees 45 pounds of bark. This black ■wattle bark is of great commeicial value for tanning purposes. It has been ascertained that 100 acres planted with accacias in this manner gives a return of £3000 sterling in five years, £2800 of which is profit, which you will all admit is a splendid profit from one hundred acres of land in the time. After the timber has beeu lemoved the land is ready for replanting with a similar crop, which is the best that could be put into it, as no stumping would be required. Deciduous trees or trees which shed their leaves every year differ from coniferous trees in every way. I do not know of any deciduous tree that delights to growin fern land. On the contrary, thorn hedges, fruit trees, and even the hardy poplar trees not only cease to grow taller, but actually diminish in height and .size, seeming to shrink, within themselves as their natural enemy the fern creeps in ■ around them. Deciduous trees of ill sorts should be planted in well cultivated land eatiy in the season, viz., May, June, and July, as they not only make roots in the winter .months, but considerably increase the. size of their w00d.,, Many decjduous trees require, transplanting aeyeral-timesj and very, careful nursing, before planting out in, the place wjiere it, . is iptended that' 'they shalt permanently, \ remain; t. i The ioak,/ elm,< tash.s ; and,- beqeh , are>>ndngswyarjetiefl Jbbpt.jeouir| lihe t ' foregoing treatment. MosJ; deciduous, , trees t i|ir^i\,ot l .,^j«J*Wj^^4V£||^^ fl "R^

these are rare exceptions. Although a ijreat ndmWeV of l |Sivle i ii f sliH« i })Ml ? 'VltV /i.tit intend to do more tluin mention that they are of hucli muTifcWus t'fi fr&ti&t^t ami so easily obtained tlmt any'nersons requiring them have only togo to thenUi'seiie.vnndf ohose for th«m-felvo.V&nd if Jtltay know nothing of planting tin} nurseryman will always arrange to have them planted in a .proper manner 'for persona requiring thssiu, anil the difficulties of oi\tainnit; particular varieties are,, diminishing yearly. I intended, if time hsul p«rmittctl me to do «o, to have said a little on f i nit trees, Imt the time was alto cether too short to admit of my jrettina the necessary data. Many of you will perhaps be surprised that I have not introduced New Zealand trees* My reason" tor notrdoing'Bo are tliuae : New Zealand trees, as a rule, are ditHcult to cultivate and very slow of growth, and it would Uk« many eveninga to do justice to our New Zealand forests.

The pioon, like some men, ia brightest when it is full. It didn't require much of a philosopher to discover that all lich widows are handsome. You never hear of a strike among the astronomers. Their business is always looking up. A OoUKBSPONTDKNT ask — " I« the moon inhabited ?" It depends on how late you have been out at night. Tub author of the saying, " You must take a man as you find him," is supposed to have been a constable. " What is this man charged with ?' asked the judge. " With whisky, yer honour," replied the sententious policeman. " It is poor taste to laugh at your own jokes,' said Biown ; " something I never do, though I do say it." " Does anybody else ever laugh at them ?" asked Jones. An artist painted a cannon so naturally that when he was finishing the touchhole it went off— at a very good pi ice. " Mean ?"shc cried, "my husband i«> the meanest wretch in the world. He i won t give me the least excuse for comj plaining." A i'okt anxioubly asked — " 0, pallid brow, where is the spirit gone?' Don't ask the pallid brow. If your bottle is empty ask the floiid nose. Why may a dresbiny gown be described at the most lusting garment in a gentleman's wardrobe ?— Because he never weais it out. DKILL-IN!VCUU«'TOR. to recently-joined recruit : "As you weie ! As you were, man !" Recruit : " Hanged it I know where I wciv !" " Boy, can I go through this gate to the river?*' politely inquhed a iashioii-ahly-dressed lady. " Yes'm ; a load ot hay went through this morning," was the urchin's horrid reply. "CAprAiN, we are entirely out of ammunition," f"id the orderly t-eiyeaut of a company of VolunteerH to hi« In«h oiiptain at a lute review. • • Autirely out?" fl»id tho captain. "Ye*, entirely out,' 1 answered the sergeaut. "Then Base nriny," «uid the captain. Bklla. ha" just mtirted out with her sw.iin for a walk, when her little brother called to her, "I «-iy t Brll.i, don't you brmgth.it fellow back here to tt\i with you. Mamma says there ain't moie'n enouirh bwmirsto g<» rouud as it is." Good Esouuh. — A watijioncont lining a calt in a cayo was in the market with a farmer's wife in charge, and a butcher with an eye to veal stepped up and inquired :— " Madam, is that calf for sale ?" '• Yes, sir" 4I Is he a Durham ?" "He may be." " Isn't an Ayrshire, is he ?" " Like enough." " Don't yon know bis breed ?" he asked in a surprised voice. " No, I don't." " Then how do you expect to sell him ?" " All I know about that calf is that his father hooked a justice of the peace to death and his mother chased a female lecturer two miles, aad it that ain't bleed enough to ask $4 on you needn't take him!'' The butcher said the bieed was all right.— Ditrnit Fnr J'ms, Ox a certain occasion Webster the American senator was on his way to his duties at Washington. He was competed to proceed at night by stajje from Bajtimorc. He had no travelling companion, and the driver had a felonious look which produced no inconsiderable alarm in the senator. " I endeavoured to tranquillize myself," a.iid Webster, "and had partly succeeded when we reached the dark woods between Bladensburg and Washington- -a proper scene for murder or outrage— and here, I confess, my courage again deserted me. Just then the driver turned to me, and, with a gruff voice, inquired my name. I gave it to him. 4 Where are you going V said he. The reply was, 'To Washington. I am a senator.' Upon this the driver seized me, fervently by the hand, and exclaimed, 1 How glad lam ! I have been tremb* ling in my sent for the last hour ; for, when I looked at you, I took you to be a highwayman. A CLisvEti triok was played upon a city marshal by a Maine liquor dealer. Ona night the dealer made a wager with tho marshal that ho would bring a large quantity of liquor into the city and sell it. iv small wholesale lots without the latter'e beiug able to catch him. The next clay the liquor-dealer disappeared, only to reappear as suddenly a couple of days latdi'i The marshal's myrimdous soon detected a very strong odour of whis-ky in the public breath* but hunted vainly for a week for the auonrce of supply. At last the marshal thought of his wager, and made a descent on his friend, but found nothing illegal on the premises. After dismissing his officers, the marshal baid, " Look here, X. ; this town is just chock full of whisky, and I believe you are at the bottom of the ban el ! Now give us the racket, and, if you have, won your wager, I'll pay up, and say nothing about it." With a broad grin, the other replied, as he selected a cocoa-nut from a basketful in the corner, " Here take that home and try it ! I passed thousands of them under your very nose last week, and this basketful is the last of the lot." The marshal paid up, and left with the sample. The Showman's Boa Constrictor. — John, undo his tail. There, ladies and gentleman. The wonderful boy , constructor, so called because ho constructs many images with his serpentile- form. The constructor is a long animal, as you well perceive, and is very lont{-lived. He lives a hundred years or more, if he don't die beforehand. He is of the wormy species, and worms himself along the ground without; legs, He is capaple of climbing the highest trees, iv which he is fond oi concealing himself in the branches thereof, that he may impose upon the benighted traveller or other beasts, whereby to assatiate his hunger. He mashes his vittles before he eats 'em, and then swallows 'em, head first. The sea-serpent is much larger, yet I, think, the boy constructor could lick him'; for he is full of pluck. Prick him John, and make him hiss. When ho hisses he is very angry, and cares very little what becomes of him, because he is weakminded, and has a small head. He has a lovely skin, but is ugly tempered. He is very sulky and lazy, ancWie is spiteful ■', it is a mercy- he can't .talkl I . have took care of this mighty snake for three: years, but he shows nogratude. He is a glutton, andlikes to stuff himself, and then go ;fco sleep.' If' John don't stir him (stir him again, John' J) he^vquld nevjer.jWflke up, except to his vittles. I" don't know'sfj;, ought- to 1 blame hini, though \\ because nature is nature, whether in Boston or therude valley* 1 oft? Bengal'^ . t'l/ufrftre jin 'uncle who has r lived iin |Bengal>ijandJ a-. brother* who! has never* been;<theijß/;t-?Mv, uncle jtellsi me he. Hasifieeny iten j thousat d^, (boy constructor* at ©ne.ufcime^ *& rolicki ig ih;the' forestiarid eating each j other.if i p.' iMy)broth"ec l does?not'believe\jt,'ibUliftiheff; iHe has' not" seen'rfit.^/My^iiu^lef^mßy',44* fdepenfcdf upon# ' |Ie ! sipn\fy^ bnco, and 1 who ever ?sold^ liduojfgfe^ the j/bxMf;|ci [ t^x