SHELTER FOR THE ORCHARD.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIII, Issue 182, 31 July 1912, Page 8

SHELTER FOR THE ORCHARD.

A NECESSARY PROVISION,

(From the "N.Z. Farmer.")

(Concluded from last Wednesday.)

Under this head we have a very much wider range of trees and plants to select from, according to the nature of the soil, and the character of the climate. On very much of our country suitable for fruit, especially in clay districts, —in spite of all that has been said against them—the pines remain amongst the cheapest, quickest, and most effective shelter breaks that can be planted. Inland, the Pinus insignia, and in exposed situations, the P. muricata stand out as two of the best of their species. Healthy, hardy, of rapid growth, and standing clipping to an extent that has to be seen 'to be realized, they form an ideal outside permanent wind break for I the orchard. '•

The writer has seen pine hedges over 20 years old, 12 feet high, and dense to the ground, without a single dead or sick specimen in half a mile of length, one hard clipping each year having proved enough to secure and maintain this desirable result. By some it is objected that pines are hard on the soil. Very true, but against that is the value of the shelter secured, and also the fact that a close clipped hedge does not have anything like the spread of roots found on trees of the same age, left to grow wild. In planting pines for a close hedge, it is best to allow about 20 plants to the chain. Two year-old plants from the nursery rows will be found the best to set out.

In very exposed situations, near the sea, P. Austriaca and P. Contorta, though of slower growth, will be found of value. The Cyprus family is one that is of great value in any scheme of orchard shelter. At one time the variety, cupressus macrocarpa, was the most popular, but experience has proved that this particular cyprus is more suitable for plantations than for shelter hedges. The close clipping in hedges producing "gumming," and the consequent dying out in patches that at once renders thc hedge of little value. Cupressus Lawsoniana, although of slower growth is hardy and reliable, anil will adapt itself to almost all soils, though not so suitable as pines on heavy days. It is very ornamental, keeps full to the ground, and does not require so much clipping to keep dt in order. As a permanent shelter it has few equals. There arc several others of the Cyprus family worthy of a trial, but on the whole C. Lawsoniana will be found the most reliable. The Cyprus is best planted out from the nurserv when 2 or 3 years old

Two of our Native Pittospordums, I*. Buehananii, and P. crassifolium, are of considerable value for shelter hedge purposes. The former is best suited to warm dry soils where it thrives remarkably well, and with good culture soon attains a good size. P. crassifolium Will succeed best in heavier soils, and wall be found hardy, and reliable near the sea. Both these varieties are unaffected by frost, are not very hard on the soil, and stand clipping well LAUREL.

Common laurel is found to succeed well in the south, and in tho inland districts, where dt is hj-jy, vigoroi_s,-and i reliable on modei*teljfjggo4 soils, in

' ■ —5- : i■■ many parts of the Auckland district m ' pec-ally near .he sea, it is not so BOM*'' The laurel is grown from cuttings ___S these must be first struck and "ot 0 »_ in the nursery for one or two years h? - fore being planted in the hedge. White birch is useful" _ or ._> outside breakwind, but require '• some dwarf er hedge, such Eleagnus Japonica underneath, to keen out the -round draught. Birch succeed? best on moderately deep light soils. : Elaeagnus Japonica is well known and ''•' valuable; will grow on practically anv ■■■"'■' soil, and makes a dense evergreen shelter hedge, at the same time is Quit " cattle proof. Eleagnus is very easv on the soil, and though at first rather slow : when once established it makes very ra' pid growth, and is permanent. The onlv objection to it is the amount of clipnin. ' required to keep it ia really first-Has, v order. * 8S *

Tecoma capensis, with its fi l oss _*; 1 green leaves, and scarlet , flowers - ' must commend itself more and more as it becomes better known/ It is of easy culture, does not rob the soil as much as most hed~es grows very thick and close right from ; the ground up, and is very easy to clip' ; while its appearance is certainly __„£ "- pleasing. In connection with this plant however, a word of warning is necessary ' : It is most impatient of frost, hence it h only in the coastal districts, and on elevations unaffected by frost that it can - be grown satisfactorily. But as dt Standi strong winds, and we have such larn. areas of country in the North Island,' practically free from frost, Tecoma ii sure to be increasingly popular both fat home and orchard hedges. _<,'• No list of orchard hedge plants would be at all complete that did not include the privets. Of these there are three' that are well-known and deservedly pop a lar in New Zealand: i.e., Lygustrium sin", : ensis, the well-known Chinese or large leaved Privet. L. ovalifolium (Calif o nian privet) and L. undnlacun. (_mai_! - leaved privet). They are all hardy, per- ' manent, evergreen, of easy culture, ami - will grow on any fairly good soil; are . not subject to frost, and do not require' very much clipping to keep them in good ' order. L. sinensis will grow up to about 20 feet if required, and is ot = strong rapid growth. L. ovalifolium. " grows up to cay 15 feet high, is very compact and useful where a quick, permanent close hedge is required. L. undn. latum is effective up to about 10 feet high, will clip like a box hedge, and where a great height is not necessary ' "'■ is one of the most permanent, effective, and ornamental hedges that can'be • grown. ." "- ~>-|' On drained swamps and other suitable lands the Upright Lombardy Poplar will be found very effective.. Strong cuttings are prepared and planted in rows, about 12 to 20 inches apart. The sides of the hedges are clipped each winter, and the tops cut to the required height even' other winter. " ■ '• $■ In coastal districts the Coprosma Baiir- ■-•'-'■ lana—the Taupata of the Maoris—will be found of considerable value for shel- ? ter purposes. It has a beautiful dark v foliage, is evergreen, easy to grow, : i stands trimming well and is permanent, while it will grow right down to the * tide, and regains unaffected by the- -S severest storms. Two-year-old trans- * planted plants from nursery rows are the best; for a close hedge they should' §§ be planted 18 to 24 inches apart and trimmed close for the first year or two. '■/ Other plants and trees may in some ] cases be used with advantage, as, fo"r||j§t instance, Giant Lauristimes.. Escaleonias (varieties), Olearias (vari-tfes),' ' Box Thorn, etc. But the above list will bessi>found to furnish sufficient variety to'|§f meet the present requirements of the fruit-growing districts of the ; Dominion in the matter of shelter. - t-.ss^ POSITION OF SHELTER BELTS. a|S Many practised growers claim that in >• most of the fruit districts the north, and ' south shelter belts should never be more - than five chains apart, while (except in, : . special circumstances) the hedges running east and west will not require to be more than every 10 to 15 chains. 11l large orchards the question of intermediate shelter belts running through the orchard is one of great importance, aid|lll in some instances the use of quinces, Wm cherry plums, and other strong growing fruit tree hedges have been tried with j more or less success. But, on the whole, it will be found that the space taken up by shelter hedges is not lost, but is absolutely necessary to the well-being of the orchard itself. H,,; In conclusion, a word or two may' not be out of place in reference to the care of the orchard shelter hedges. It will pay to prepare the land well ».§£&£_ first, to plant the best of plants only, .- and in the best possible way, and where > the land is not first-class don't fail ta give your hedges a liberal manuring and until they are well established give them as good culture as you do your fruit trees themselves. Lastly, do not neglect |. the necessary trimming «nd clipping of the hedges from the start, for on this i. depends largely their future usefulneM V ; . and permanence.