“Man Of Trees” Found Tallest Hardwood

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30886, 20 October 1965, Page 22

“Man Of Trees” Found Tallest Hardwood

Mr R. St Barbe Baker, New Zealand’s “Man of the Trees,” passed through Christchurch yesterday on his way home to Mount Cook Station after spending a month in Australia, during which, he said, he had found the tallest hardwood tree in the world.

It is, according to Mr I Baker, a 322 ft giant mountain ash. Eucalyptus regnans, and it is growing north of Hobart, Tasmania. Mr Baker said he had returned to New Zealand to publish his 21st book on trees, “Famous Trees of New Zealand.” which would deal with native and plantation species. “I just missed my publisher, Mr A. H. Reed, when he left Sydney on his 44-day walk to Melbourne,” said Mr Baker. “I admire his courage.”

The book would be dedicated to his father-in-law, the late Mr T. D. Burnett, of Mount Cook Station, and to Sir Francis Dillon Bell and Sir Eruera Tirikatene, all of whom had done great work for afforestation.

z Mr Baker said that a year ” ago, he had visited the heads t of 24 countries round Hie s Sahara Desert to ask them to r plant trees so as to encour- - age the reclamation of 2m s square miles of desert that - could grow enough food to feed the world. He was

pleased to hear that practical interest was being taken in his suggestion.