CIVIC RESERVES.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 15498, 27 January 1916, Page 4

CIVIC RESERVES.

DEVELOPING THEM INTO FORESTS. CITY COUNCIL'S WORK. TJic citizens of Christchurch have vcrv littlo idea of the number of reserves that have been Tested in tho "Uivor councillors and burgesses of the' City of Christchurch. If they have, then they have taken "too littlo heed of how the Council has dealt with them in an attempt to beautify them or make them or ultimate profit. Besides the reserves of smaller extent, and endowments, the City Council owns about 818 acres at Bottle Lake, acres at Chaney's, and 516 acres at K T ew Brighton, most of which land was at one timo sand dunes covered with forso and scrub. The Council, however endeavoured not only to beautify, but 'to utilise these waste spaces, and, under the direction of Mr "W. Wiekens, the head gardener, initiated a great scheme of planting. This led to the creation of the Council Nurseries to the cast of Linwood Park. Here, a representative of "The Press" met Mr Wiekens, who outlined tho scheme of civic planting. • 3lr Wiekens says tho Council plants pinus radiata, a species closely allied to tho pinus insignis. Tho trees arc set out some six feet apart, and thus there will be planted about 1250 trees to the acre. In '25 years these trees should each yield about 650 feet of timber (superficial measurement). Allowing for stunts or wasted trees, the avcrago production per acre should bo about 600,000 feet. Tho timber, which will bo produced at that time by theso trees, taking it only a t 12s 6d por 100 feet, as the ruling price in Christchurch to-day, should give a return of £3750 per aero, or a gross revenue of £150 per acre per annum. Mr Wiekens pointed out that he had allowed only for present prices, but as the industries of the country increased, so there would be a continual and a growing demand for timber for the purposes of many trades. The City Council were planting each year as much as their finances would allow. The demand for trees was insatiable, and herico the Linwood Nursery had been started. Asked as to tho number of trees in tho nursery, Mr Wiekens gavo the totals as 125,000 radiata, 50,000 Austriaea, 5000 p. larieo, 30,000 pondorosa. 25,000 maritima, 7000 muricata, 14.000 poplars (Lombardy) and 10,000 other trees, making a total of 266,000 twoyear trees. The number of seedling pines not to go out for a year was 330.000. Besides theso there were ready to plant at Bottle Lake 167,000 trees of all sorts. making a grand total of over 750,000, The trees that have been mentioned have not been chosen because of their special adaptability as timber trees; they have been chosen becauso itliey are the best trees for tho particular soil in which the" arc to be set out. Fairly good timber mav bo obtained from tho, pinus insignis or tho radiata. The sea pine, or pinus maritimn. is not a good timber tree, but is specially adapted for growing qu the sea-shore. The best timber frees mentioned are tho ponr dorosa and the Austriaca. The larico is also a useful timber. Walking through tho nurseries one could not fail to observe the wonderful manner in which the seeds had struck in spito of the adverse season. In some rows thero was not a single break, but in one bed the plants Krown from imported seeds were not half as strong as those grown from local seed. • . Canterbury, said Mr Wiekens, wanted a cheap, quick-growing timber, and he considered that the City Council, in planting theso trees, was endeavouring, aB far as lay in its power, to meet a certain want as soon as ifc possibly could. Thev had taken up trees recommended bv the Government experts, and so far as they could •were* providing for tho future. The sea pino, he said, was not good even as firewood, and was only useful as starting a shelter for other trees. The inspection of tli'e young plants as thev lay under coverings to shelter them was most interesting. There were the two-year-old trees not planted out, and the three-year-olds waiting removal next winter, and all gran-ins as if they were one, hardly any difference being perceptiblo between them. A walk was then taken through the plantation round tho park. Mr Wiekens pointed out some beautiful trees. One, a pinus excelsior is a magnificent decorative tree, and its slender shoots and droooing branch - i made it the pride of the plantation. Besides trees, in which Mr Wiekens takes the keenest interest, lie has also some very handsome flower beds, and the whole park is being brought bit by bit into order.