Monterey Pine Has Become Important

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28529, 7 March 1958, Page 11

Monterey Pine Has Become Important

Monterey Pine has come a long way since it was one of the world’s least known trees, confined to a. narrow peninsula on the Californian coast, near Monterey.

In New Zealand, where it grows ilmost double the size it attains In its natural home, Monterey pine has come to be known as radiata pine. And with the dwindling of New Zealand’s native timber resources it has become of first importance. The widespread use of radiata as a building timber did not begin Until 1945. Since then its use bas expanded in a spectacular manner. It is now being produced at the rate of about 300 million board feet a year. Radiata compares favourably with other softwoods It is similar in strength to Baltic pine. Compared with rfmu, which it has superseded as New Zealand’s major building timber, radiata pine is less dense but it also shrinks less. It is not inferior in Stiffness or bending strength.

Radiata nails easily, holds screws well, and can be dressed to a smooth surface. It takes all kinds of paint readily, and when left unpainted it has valuable decorative qualities. Rimu. or red pine, the most used of New Zealand’s native timbers, is generally a high-grade building timber. It works well and takes a fine finish. It is not, however, durable in the ground. An outstanding reputation as a smooth-wearing floor timber is held by matai, or black pine. It is moderately hard and shrinks very little. Dry heart matai is extremely hard. Totara, a brittle timber, has the tremendous advantage of being very durable in the ground and in water.

Kauri is now almost unobtainable commercially. It has been called the world’s best sawn timber. It works easily and holds nails well A really big kauri takes more than 1000 years to grow and the climate suitable for it is found only in North Auckland and the Coromandel Peninsula.