NATIVE TIMBER TREES.

Press, Volume XLIV, Issue 19400, 28 August 1928, Page 9

NATIVE TIMBER TREES.

NOT SUITABLE FOR PLANTATIONS. SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT. "The growing of native woods can not be recommended as even part of a Plantation Board's scheme," reported Mr B. G. Robertson (Superintendent of the Selwyn Plantation Board yester.day). He considered that the formation or re-establishment of late maturing native forests was purely a project for the Government, and that the Board would be well advised not to embark upon a. scheme that was likely to be unduly costly and otherwise unprofitable.

The report dealing with the subject stated: "The growing of native woods cannot be recommended even as part of a Board'B scheme. Native timber should be produced by natural and aided regeneration in such localities as favour the re-establishment of indigenous trees. The raising and planting out of native trees is a simple matter, and, if allotted humid positions, success could be looked for in operating with such' trees as beeches, Nothofagus fusca, Nothofagus solandri, etc. There can be no doubt, however, that aided regenerationof beeches in suitable localities is the more meritorious method of producing this timber, and, indeed, this opinion applies to other indigenous trees; Having all : the facilities for the work, it is apparen. that the formation or reestablishment of late maturing native forests is purely a project for the Government, and this Board would be well advised not to embark upon a scheme that is likely to prove to be unduly costly and otherwise unprofitable." The report was adopted, members expressing the opinion that the report was a very sensible one.