TREES AFFECTED BY DROUGHT

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21384, 29 January 1935, Page 4

TREES AFFECTED BY DROUGHT

SELWYN PLANTATION BOARD'S LOSS , Continued drought has seriously affected trees of all ages on properties owned by the Selwyn Plantation Board, and the report of the board's superintendent, Mr R, G. Robinson, to the meeting of the board yesterday morning, showed that many of trie younger trees which were looking well early in December, were now dying out. Oregon pine was suffering most, and with a continuance of the dry spell much longer it was possible that many of them cou'.d not survive. Trees that have been growing well for two or three years are now showing signs of dying out. Ponderosa was the tree that was standing up to the trying conditions best. The growing season started very early in this species, and in a similar manner the tree cea:j?d growing very early in the season. Thus by the time the dry spell came along they were not requiring so much nourishment as the later growing species. In reply to Mr R. M. Morten, Mr Robinson stated that the macrocarpa were also feeling the effects of the dry weather, but were in a better condition than the oregon. Mr Robinson also mentioned that at the board's plantation at Southbridge the your.g trees were looking very well when inspected by the chairman (Mr G. S. Ellis) and himself. He was back there a month later and could say that now one-third of the trees were dead and some other trees were failing very fast. He also mentioned that other public bodies and private individuals had suffered very badly and that the board's position was by no means so bad as most of the others. "As anticipated, trees planted in the springtime are finding the parched conditions unbearable, and the death rate will be abnormally high," the report continued. "Plantations established for five or more years, although visibly affected, are apparently standing the strain, but development of pines and other trees is at a standstill. The season's experience of this board is shared by tree planters generally in the drier localities, and to my knowledge wholesale losses have been incurred by farmers and others in their shelter-belt and for-est-plot planting this season. "Influenced by the ideal conditions for the spread of inspect pests, the gum weevil and tortoise beetle are causing the rapid defoliation of the eucalypts in several stands, and it is probable that many trees of weak constitution will fail to withstand the season's combined attacks of the insects. "Tree propagation is being carried on under difficulties, but, by resorting to continuous dry cultivation, it is hoped that the pine, oregon, and other seedlings will survive. Some 20,000 cupressus macrocarpa were pricked off into trays, and are rooting satisfactorily."