ON PLANTING FOREST TREES.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2222, 5 October 1886, Page 3

ON PLANTING FOREST TREES.

I will conclude this paper with an account of the way I have succeeded in raising plantations during the last two years. My plan has been to collect a variety of tree seeds such as wattles, pines, cypresses, junipers, gums, &c, and to plough, about the middle of September, a belt t*o chains wide of old grass land a good depth, turning the furrows well over, covering all the grass and working it down very fine. I then drill the seeds with an ordinary McSherry corn drill, using the same wheel as for wheat, but only using, say three coulters. If three are used one may be used for pines, one for wattles, and one for gum». The coulters sowing the pines and wattles should be set forward co as to put the seeds in a good depth, while the one so wing gums or other small seedH should be set back so as not to sow too deep. One or more rows of carrots or mangels may be sown at the same timo between the rows with excellent results, the coulters to be set back as for the gums. The best crop of carrets that I saw last season was grown between treea in this manner; in fact, in my experience, this is one of the best ways to get & uch crops at all times. To plough up the land as described above, and get the surface very fine by harrowing and rolling, sowing the seeds at once, they get a start before the weeds, and it is a matter of much less difficulty to keep them clean afterwards. And another thing, land worked in this way will retain the moisture in a remarkable manner I during the driest summer. But to return to the trees, the wattle seed should be soaked in hot water and kept in moist sand for about a fortnight in a warm place, the pines may be treated in the same way, they will then be almost ready to flrow. Before sowing they should be well mixed in dry sharp sand or some dust, so as to separate the seeds and make the proper bulk for the drill ; care will have to be exercised to see that the bulk is sufficiently dry to run properly The gum seeds should be sown in the same way. By this means, at the smallest possible cost, I have succeeded in getting a splendid plant of trees. I confess when I first tried this plan I did it as a risky experiment, because I have always found the greatest difficulty in keeping the birds off the beds of seeds in the garden, yet in these borders, pines, cypress, the oak, gums, wattles, and other trees have come up well and made a good start the firbt year. The seeds were sown the first week in October, and in about a fortnight afterwards I took the precaution to sow over the land some poisoned grain in the hope of destroying any larks that might take a lifting to the young trees. The following amount of seeds I used the first year ; lib. stringy bark gum ; Jib. white gum ; {\b. peppermint gum ; £lb. the oak ; |lb. of another gum ; and about |lb. of pine, cypress, and other seeds; this was sown on eight acre. Last year I substituted wattles for the gums, with first rate results. This year it is my intention to sow about 31bs. pine, juniper, and other conifers, with about 2lbs. wattle and lib. mixed gums, on a similar belt. — N. Z. Country Journal. Greendale. T. W. Adams.

The stipend of tlie Bishop of Melbourne is £1500 a year with a home, and an allowance of £300 per year for travelling expenses. Thus "Puff" :— ln the early days in Dunedin when the Kn»lish mail came in, they used to post up the chief items of news outside the newspaper offices before the " Extras " came out ! Yes, I remember ! Well? Well, the puMic were swarming like bees round the Otago Daily Times' office, waiting for the first news, and presently the window opened and a paper was stuck up, and an excited man in front turned round and called out, "Lord Palmerston's dead!" I was on the outside fringe of the crowd, and a dejected looking swe/1 near me, exclaimed in a tragic voice :— " D Lord Palmerston ! I wonder what's the price of wool ?" Messrs W. J. Hunter and Co. will hold their first Waikat) Cattle Fair at the Ohaupo yards on Tuesday, the 19th inst., when 1000 head of cattle will be yarded. Tho*o having stock for this sale are requosted to send in their entries fortkwith. Yes ! It is certainly true. Ask any of your friends who have purchased there. Garlick and Cranwell have numerous unasked for and very favourable commendations from country customers on their excellent packing of Furniture, Crockery, and Glass, &c. Ladies and gentlemen about ti furnish should remember that Garlick and Cranwell's is tub Cheap Furnishing Wharehouse of Auckland. Furniture to suit all classes ; also Carpets, Floor Cloths and all House Necessaries. If your new house is nearly finished, or, you are going: t( > get marred, visit Garlick and Cranwell, Queen-street and Lome-street Auckland. Intending pur rhasrr* ran hnvp a catalogue srnt fre»«.