Bay of Plenty Times WEDNESDAY, MARCH 1, 1914. OUR FUTURE FORESTS.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume XLII, Issue 6023, 4 March 1914, Page 4

Bay of Plenty Times WEDNESDAY, MARCH 1, 1914. OUR FUTURE FORESTS.

There need bo no apology for returning once more to the important I question of afforestation, especially in ;i. aistiiet such as tins with its large areas of waste lands. Added interest has been given to the subject by a paper read 'by Mr D. A. Hay at the recent conference of the New Zealand Nurseries" Association in Auckland. " Heatlbrestation in New Zealand," said Mr Hay, -bad been sadly neglected, and vast areas that were practically useless could be turned to profitable account Injudicious planting and become a source of wealth to the State. While replanting tho native species ot bush and trees that have served their purpose in the past, and still exisfc m limited areas, they would also have to give a place to exotics. In (lie future our commercial forest would ! chieily consist of the quickest-growing conifers. Encalyptiw or gums would bo extensively planted. Gums were mostly of rapid growth, were highly ornamental and would succeed on almost any "soils. "Experimental plant ing in different localities throughout the Dominion," he continued, -'is urgently required in order to prove what are the best and most profitable trees for the future. The selection of seeds for sowing is of paramount

importance, and in every instance where plants arc produced from the seedlings, the seeds should be obtained from the best type. The parent tree should be the most vigorous and best of its kind." Speaking at the same Conference Mr T. AY. Kirk, the Director of the Orchards Division of t-he Department of Agriculture, urged orchardists with pieces of waste land at their disposal to plant them tkickly with pinus insignus to provide timber for the future. Koresighted fruitgrowers in the Motueka district, he said, had done so iv the past, and some of them were now being oflered XI per tree, He spoke with pcrsoual experience of the value of pinus insignus timber for fruifc cases, and declared it to be superior to white pine, if this advice were acted upon wherever possible the experience so gained would be of incalculable benefit to the Government when tree-planting comes to be undertaken on a more systematic and extensive a scale—as it must be sooner or later—than is possible by individuals on small areas. The value to the orchardist of having at "hand a timber suitable for fruit cases should alone be sufficient to induce

him to. pay more*tban passing attention to the advice of Mr Kirk.