Ashley Tree Planting

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31225, 24 November 1966, Page 9

Ashley Tree Planting

Preparations are in hand for more tree planting at the AshleyState forest. So far 7000 acres of the 20,000 acres of forestry land at Ashley have been planted, and next year it is planned to plant out about another 400 acres of trees, followed by 700 acres in 1968, and 1000 acres in 1969.

Last year there was a record planting by the Forest Service at Ashley, View Hill, and Teviotdale, where about I, young trees were set out in plantations. This was announced by the forest ranger at Ashley (Mr J. B. Everett), who said that tenders have been called for giant discing of about 400 acres of gorse and scrub in readiness for planting at Ashley. Giant discing and aerial spraying were replacing the old system of clearing for planting by line-cutting through gorse and broom, said Mr Everett. Giant discing was a better and cheaper method of control, on country where machinery could work, the cost being about a quarter to a fifth of that for linecutting. On rougher country control was gained by aerial spraying and this method was used for control after the trees were planted. Control by Spraying

Aerial spraying was used also to control nassella on the forestry blocks at Waipara, said Mr Everett. More than 1000 acres were treated by aerial spraying of dalapon, using 401 b an acre for a kill and 81b an acre to stop seeding. Use of the spray caused only a minor set back to the young trees. This practice was continued for about the first five years of a young plantation after which the trees had sufficient size to suppress the nassella and stop the seed from being spread by wind. The main plantings in the areas being developed would be pinus radiata, Douglas fir, and Corsican pine, said Mr Everett.

Trial Plots

As a long-term project, the forest would be gradually extended until it covers the whole of the southern aspect of Mount Grey to the summit, said Mr Everett. Already two trial plots of conventional species had been established on the mountain, one close to the summit around 3000 ft and the other around 2000 ft. These had struck well and it was now a matter of time and waiting to see how the ultimate growth of these trees would compare with those grown at lower levels.

When it came to extending plantings to Mount Grey on a major scale, steps would be taken to safeguard remnants of native bush, mainly beech,

but also a few red, white and black pines, said Mr Everett. Referring to the extensive area of land being held for forestry development in the North Canterbury area, Mr Everett said that the department, through the Lands Department, bought only when the land was offered to it. Use of the land for forest development was then still subject to a land utilisation report Where it was considered the land could make a greater contribution to the country’s economy as farm land, it was usual for it to be redeveloped by the Lands Department and eventually made available again for farm settlement. View Hill

In preparation for planting in trees in 1968, a block of about 156 acres of gorse and scrub country in the View Hill district is being developed also.

This area is part of a block of about 1000 acres, which the Forest Service has taken over. Most of the land is rolling country The Forest Service had a programme of progressive planting and it was expected that the whole block would be planted by 1969, said Mr R. S. Harrington, senior forest ranger at Eyrewell State Forest, from which the View Hill block is administered. About half was already planted. The programme provides for clearing and cultivation of about 150 to 200 acres each year. The scrub-covered land is first sprayed from the air, disced, burned, and then disced again, ready fo? planting a year later. Most of the trees planted are pinus radiata, said Mr Harrington. However, on some of the flat areas, Douglas firs are being planted.