TREE PLANTING

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 128, 12 March 1936, Page 9

TREE PLANTING

IN MAYFIELD DISTRICT. t ROADSIDE AND DOMAIN. SOME IN CARE OF WOMEN. Since the earliest days of the County the residents of the Mayfield district have recognised the value of tree-planting and there are many extensive areas planted in pines and gums in that locality. The Mayfield representatives on the County Council in the early days impressed the future value of plantations on Lho Council and Avide areas Avere devoted to this Avork As the years passed the evergrowing value of these plantings became apparent, and since tho trees came to maturity the Council has reaped a rich harvest from its timber. In recent years vast quantities of trees have been milled, and at the present time there are no fewer than five mills at Avork within easy distance of the township. The milling operations have given employment to a large number of men in the aggregate and each mill site is really a miniature settlement.

Only the Fringe Touched. Though these mills have been cutting into the plantations so rapidly, it appears as one passes through the district, that only the fringe has as yet been touched, for wherever one looks there arc plantations. 1 Gales of Avind have played havoc with trees in some localities and this has occasioned a good deal of loss, but this was inevitable. In breaking the full force of the gales from the west the plantations have alone been worth Avhile. Fire has also been the means of some loss, but the total must he much smaller than might be expected in so large an area. Re-planting has claimed the attention of the Council, which is alive to the value of mature plantations and as areas are cut out, young trees are being put in. The Council’s programme for the coining year is an extensive one, and many thousands of young plants will be put in at suitable reserves, of which, the Council fortunately has many. Roadside Beautifying. The policy of tree-planting has not been left entirely to the male section of the community and since branches of those live organisations, the Women’s Division of the Farmers’ Union and the Women’s Institute, have been formed in Mayfield, the members have taken a keen interest in trees.

It was at the suggestion of the Women’s Division that the County Council planted a number of ornamental trees on the sides of the road between the township and the bridge. These, when they grow up, will make a final avenue leading into Mayfield. The situation of tlieso trees has been criticised in some quarters. They have, of necessity, been planted beneath the power and telephone wires, and it is pointed out that this will mean the trees cannot be permitted to grow to their full height. Howcvei, it will be some time before they begin to trouble the wires and by that time the problem might have been solved. ‘ln the Domain there are a number of ornamental trees that are in the care of members of the Women’s Institute. Each member has undertaken to care for one of these trees, thus releasing a burden from the Domain authorities.