SELWYN PLANTATIONS

Press, Volume XLIV, Issue 19400, 28 August 1928, Page 3

SELWYN PLANTATIONS

; ♦• —— • . . . MEETING OP BOARD. A meetjng of the Selwyn Plantations Board was held in the Chamber of Commerce building yesterday morning, when Mr W Stewart presided. The superintendent (Mr R. G. Robinson) ■ stated in his monthly report that satisfactory progress generally had been made with the various works'. Some 420 acres had already been afforested this year with twoyear old pinus insignis, pimis ponderosa, pinus laricio, and Oregon pine, and the planting of an additional 100,00Q trees will complete the projected scheme. . In reviewing the board's afforestation work for the past year the superintendent stated that so far complete success has resulted on the general scheme aimed at. He outlined present' planting requirements and recommended the acquirement of special areas for growing Oregon pine and macrocarpa. Thanks for donations of firewood were forwarded by Nazareth House, the Methodist Orphanage, and the Presbyterian Orphanage. The superintendent (Mr R. G. Robinson) reported; "Adverse weather conditions extending over a week somewhat interfered with planting operations, although your season's afforestation scheme is now well. advanced. Some 420 acres have already, been afforested this year with two-year-old pinus insignis, pinus ponderosa, pinus laricio, and Oregon pine, and the planting of an additional 100,000 trees will complete the projected scheme. All trees planted out at Westenra's, Parrott'a, Grigg's, and Hight's Reserves look healthy, whilst the present ap- . pearance of the 50,000 pines used in the underplanting of wattle and gum stands also isdioate a very successful growing percentage. "A start was made at the, transplantation of seedlings at the nursery," but the heavy rainfall experienced will prevent a resumption of this work for some - days at least. Some 52,003 two-year-old trees have been disposed of to publio bodies, etc., this season in addition to fulfilling requirements for the afforestation of about 500 acres of board property. "In reviewing the board's . afforestation activities during the past few years, it is indeed gratifying to be able to stato that so far complete success has resulted in the general scheme aimed at. The comparatively . small area of softwoodß made the hurried | formation of pine plantations desirable, and, j having at present between and 3000 | . acres , recently planted in pinus insignis, besides, of course, some hundreds of acres of other species, the wisdom of now specialising in slower-growing trees prodnoing timber of greater marketable value is apparent "Notwithstanding this aspect, you are faced with the necessity of reafforesting cut-out areas and areas over which insect pests hare terminated the future developments of the eucalypts. There is no doubt that such trees as P. laricio and P. ponderosa may be grown successfully on moderately poor lands, whilst Oregon pine and oupresaus macrocarpa are more demanding in their requirements. Thus hundreds of acres now bared oy the board for agricultural purposes at a rental of about 5s per acre are well adapted for Plaxicio and P ponderosa, although the acquirement of special areas of Oregon and ccpresous macrocarpa is necessary to grow such timber moderately fast. "Unfortunately, not being able .to procure Oregon pine seed last season, no seedlings are available for transplanting in- the nursary this season, and probably only 80,000 Oregon (three-year-olds), 30,000 P. laricio, 20,00 P. Ponderosa. (two-year-olds), and ( 20,000 cup macrodarpa (yearlings) will , be available for plantation, extension n«st I planting season. > "It will thus be possible with » normal giowing season to plant ~ ont permanently, say, 100.000 better:grade trees next season, whilst amngsnents are already in hand to sow a sufficient quantity of Oregon pine seed to raise-up to 100,000 trees for planting out in mq. The report was adopted.