MONEY IN TREES?

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 205, 30 August 1926, Page 4

MONEY IN TREES?

A PLANTATION RETURN. AFTER FORTY YEARS. In 1887 a plantation was planted at Racecourse Hill, Canterbury, under the direction of the old Selwyn County Council, for the dual purpose of providing timber for general purposes, and shelter to adjacent properties. Included in the original planting were such crees as pinus insignis, P. ponderosa, P. laricio, P. pinaster, oregon pine, larch, silver birch, eucalyptus viminalis, E. amygdalina, E. obliqua, E. gunnii, .vhich were generally spaced at about 9ft apart. As might be expected, the vigorous growing P. insignis quickly dominated the position and caused partial or complete suppression to their sloWter-groov-ing neighbours. Here and there throughout, however, excellent specimens of oregons and gums grew up where density was not so intense. During the past few years many of the taller pines-r-80 to 90ft high—have blown over during abnormal winds, and, being about 38 years old —the recognised muturing age locally of the remarkable pine—advantage was taken of a satisfactory offer to mill the stand.

The standing volume of timber over the 40 acres, including anticipated wastage, was estimated at 33,000 sup. c eet per acre; but actual records show that only IS.OOO sup. feet (mostly casewood) have been milled per acre in addition to ■Hi cords of slab and branch firewood. From the whole area some 883,650 sup. feet of pine, 24.552 sup. feet gum, 18,812 sup. feet Oregon, and 1052 cords of firewood have been milled, for which royalty to the extent of £2654 19/ has been received, thus showing a direct revenue from contract cutting of £54 3/9 per acre. Royalty was recoverable on the following basis: Pine. 5/2 per 100 sup. feet: oregon. 6/ per 100 sup. feet; gum, 6/ per 100 sup. feet; and slab and waste timber at 5/ per cord.