Quick Success with Native Trees

Forest and Bird, Issue 39, 1 February 1936, Page 5

Quick Success with Native Trees

Wind-swept Sand-dunes of Paekakariki.

(By Observer).

Proof of the falsity of a widespread belief that native trees of New Zealand are very slow in growth and difficult to establish is given abundantly on a halfacre section at Paekakariki, Wellington, which Captain E. V. Sanderson began to plant only ten years ago. A dreary stretch of sand-dunes, covered with lupin, exposed to strong winds from the sea, has been changed into a delightful young

forest, where one may enjoy that bush scent which warms the heart of naturelovers. Of course/ when the tree-lover began his task, which seemed absurd to many onlookers, he heard frequent predictions of failure.' The area became known as “the rubbish-heap,” because of the heaps of dead lupin and other rotting vegetation, destined to form the humus necessary for the young native seedlings.

Some critics declared that the plants would be blown out of the ground. They felt that the experimenter was wasting his time, and they were rather sorry for him. Those adverse commentators who have lived to see the success of the experiment wished that they had followed Captain Sanderson’s example. He had observed Nature’s way in the establishment of forests, and took a similar course.

Some of the lupins were left to act as nurse plants. As the young natives grew up they shielded and sheltered one another. It was a kind of “close corporation” for mutual benefit. In addition to the nitrogenous nourishment supplied by the roots of lupin, the

young trees had the help of natural phosphates in the sand. Artificial fertilisers were tried, but potash alone gave any desirable results. Any organic manure proved beneficial. Cow manure gave a notable fillip to karaka.

Among the enemies to be conquered were wood-lice (commonly known as slaters), which soon changed many of the seedlings into bare sticks. Accordingly a permit was obtained for the keeping of three wekas which were assured of safe

sanctuary by a strong wire-netting fence which enclosed the section. Within a week of the birds’ arrival all plants began to improve in health. Slaters, snails and other pests suffered very heavy casualties,- and the wekas waxed fat. A general height of 15 ft. to 16 ft. was attained by the plantation in ten years. Any species which outgrew the others was cut back by heavy winds to the average height of the whole stand —the height at which the trees were mutually protective.

The “natives” (about 70 species) that have been strongly established include poroporo, wharangi, taupata, makomako (wineberry), kotukutuku (commonly called “konini,” which is the name of the sweet berry), koromiko, ngutukaka (kakabeak), pukanui, taraire, karamu, rata, karaka, karo, ngaio, whau, taupata, ake-ake, pohutukawa, ti-toki, tarata, ti (cabbage-tree), mamaku, (a tree-fern), puriri, mahoe, kawakawa, manuka, whauwhi (lacebark) and patete (fivefinger).

Captain Sanderson’s place “Te Kohanga” (“The Nest”) is now used as an experimental station. Various forms of bird-baths are tried out; the bathing conditions preferred by birds are carefully observed, experiments are made in the selection of winter food and methods of feeding and in the trapping of rats, weasels and other enemies without catching birds.