PINUS INSIGNIS.

Press, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14407, 15 July 1912, Page 8

PINUS INSIGNIS.

"TO THE EDITOR OP "THE PRESS."

:'' Sir, —Having noticed in {Ho "Weekly Press" that a Pinua insignis plantation (a large portion of which was planted by Mr King) is being turned to profit at the well-known property the Burwood tea gardens, perhaps a few lines on the subject of the usefulness of both tree and timber may not be out of place in your columns.

During the growth of the trees at Burwood, Mr King cut out all deformed and double-headed specimens, and trimmed the lower branches to a height of 10ft, the beneficial result of which treatment can so plainly now be seen. It is probable that theso trees have reached an averago height of 120 ft. and are marvellously free from knotproducing limbs. There is no necessity to repeat what has been so often written regarding the many qualities of the Pinus insignis, but one feature stands out, and that is the fact that, oven grown in sand, trees of about thirty years' growth have cut, and are cutting at Burwood, from 400 to 1000 feet of milling timber, not to speak of firewood. Although the trees are not thickly planted at Bnrwcod, the plantation should cut 70,000 feet of timber per acre.

In Nelson province the timber is very much sought after for boxes, and where good quality can be obtained, for housebuilding. It must be widely known that tho Cheviot district has adopted its uso very vigorously for the samo nurpose, and has proved it quito satisfactory.

All over Canterbury there is a largo demand for timber for outbuildings, such as men's huts, barns, stables, pigficries, fowl-houses, toolshcds, etc., and if Pinus insignis is to be obtained at a reasonable figure, and get fair treatment, it will some day tako the place of our native pine, which is becoming daily more scarce. Certainly for tho above enumerated purposes, I havo proved it quite as satisfactory.

Tho following; remarks being the result of personal experience, may prove of some use to farmers and encourage the further planting of so valuable a tree:— '

'As tho timber when dry is. very absorbanfc, I have found it a good plan to paint, with a priming coat ono side of all weather boards, as soon after it is cut as possible; by adopting such a course very much less paint will he required. Having used the timber on all classes of buildings, I, havo no hesitation in saving that it is tough and durable, always provided it is not left stacked in the weather, hut under a shed or sheets of iron.—Yours, etc., A. FARMER,

THE. NURSES IN-THE BOER WAR. TO THK 3DITOI. OF "Tl'_ I'RESS." Sir, —It appears that the "'Book of Record" forms a memorial of those who gave their.lives for the Empire in tho Soutli African War—except those of tho nurses. Can this be so? Is Rudyard Kipling's prediction fulfilled? "Bold behind the battle, in the open camp oil hallowed, c c Patient, wise, and mirthful in the ringed and reekm™ town, r" These endured unresting till they rested -from their labours — Little wa_ted bo_ies, a_! sc , : ig _. to -. r aown. Yet their graves are scattered and their names are clean forgotten Earth shall not remember, but the.Waiting An«cel knows ° Them that died ... If this is so '* _ o_ Whil ° th ° «««■* is XO V" d go r °by- rCaftor ' " c th ° meaaCr ""* women™ lemember »"y honourable Such as bade us turn again _■!,_- „ like to die." When we velß Yours, etc.. __ .LOOKER-ON.