FORESTRY IN AUSTRALIA.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 17937, 4 December 1923, Page 11

FORESTRY IN AUSTRALIA.

A CANTERBURY EXPERT'S

REPORT.

| yesterday 'a meeting of the i-jeiwyn i Plantation Board the Board's; superintendent (Mr R. G. Robinson) submitted a report of his six: vrecks' travel in Australia. He- had left New Zealand on November 26th. At Hobart, i accompanied by Mr Irby, Director of I Forests, he motored some hundreds of j miles through the midland and round the north-west and western portions of lof the island. The whole Tasmanian I our was a treat, notwithstanding ali most continuous rains. A special visit j Jit the request of Mr Irby iras made to the Sisters Hills, near Stanley, where the Government had started a nursery, and proposed planting out the sur rounding hills principally with pinus insignis. Mr Irby was hopeful of having initiated a migration scheme whereby the Imperial Government would advance over a period of 25 years a sum of £.380.000 for an afforestation and educational project to be carried out almost exclusively by lads from the Baniardo Homes. The scheme was very favourably commented on by the public generally. Prom Hobart the superintendent then weal to Meibourne and spent some days in travelling through Victoria. 'When in New youth Wales he received much valuable information ir. Sydney from gentlemen connected with the Forestry Commission. The Curator of the Technological Museum and Mr Welsh, Director of the Forestry Section, spent an afternoon with him amongst the timber, and much information regarding the durability and strength of the eucalypts was secured.

The educational value of seeing the j many species of eucalypts growing in j their native habitat, together with an j examination under expert guidance of I the typical specimens of woods would Ibe understood, continued the report. Details relative to the predominance of various species of eucalypts throughout I the tour were kept, and also of the topological and physical features of the districts traversed. The natural association of the different varieties of gums indicated what could be done by artificial gums. The blending of different gums of similar constitution and habit in plantations seemed very preferable to the pure planting of one variety. The species that appeared to be admirably adapted for the less harsh Canterbury conditions was eucalyptus deiegatensis (Tasbmnian oak or mountain ash) —a straight-grained fissile Fraibcr •with the appearance of oak. The tree developed quickly a.nd grew to a height of 4000 feet and higher. Seeds of this tree had been secured, and would be planted out next 3'ear. Forestry authorities throughout Australia continued to plant waste land on a large scale with pinus insigni3, and the manner in which this pino adapted itself to the many situations tried was truly remarkable. The planting distance in Australia (Bft apart) was much the same as that decided upon by the Board last year (7ft 6in). Pinus insignis for fruit cases was becoming increasingly popular, as the gum cases were heavier and more liable to split on nailing.

Several mills had been visited, and a good deal of information was secured relative to the exploitation of gum woods. Youthful gums in New Zealand invariably gave trouble to millers, and a large proportion of waste was inseparable from the conversion of such trees into required commercial sizes. Should a reasonable''demand exist for heavy sizes, much of the better grade blue gum in. the Darfield district might next winter bo milled at a greater profit than if corded up for fuel purposes. Many new methdos of treepropagation were Keen on the tour, but nothing deemed worthy of supplanting the methods now adopted at the nursery at Dariicld. The planting systems practised throughout Australia were yearly becoming more alike, with perhaps a tendency towards substituting two-year-olds for sturdy yearlings. As to diseases among eucalypts, in no place visited was such havoc being made by diseases upon the gum as in the Dominion. A mysterious gall disease differing from that experienced in Canterbury was occasionally seen. The report gavß detailed instances of diseases noticed. As to the regeneration of trees, each State seemed to realise the extreme importance of fostering the regeneration of gums. The system adopted was the same as that used in the Board's plantation. New South "Wales in particular was paying more attention to the perpetuation of the more valuable hardwood forests by aided regeneration by thinning and ringbarking trees of little marketable value.

Regarding timbers for telegraph and transmission poles, the authorities in Australia declared that the premature decay in New Zealand of imported poles was due to cutting from comparatively youthful trees of species not connected with tho highest durability tests, and, moreover, did not undergo any special examination by the Government expert timber officer. Ironbarks were always used in New South Wales foi J telegraph and transmission poles. Mr E. Nairn, in moving a vote of congratulation to Mr liobinsou on his work and report, said that they should endeavour to make the report as widely known as possible, for it would be of great benefit not merely to the Board, but to New Zealand forestry in general. Mr G. Witty seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously.