Varied programme for foresters’ conference

Press, 18 May 1982, Page 22

Varied programme for foresters’ conference

■ The annual conference of the New Zealand Farm Forestry Association being held in Christchurch this week has attracted about 230 foresters and interested observers from throughout New Zealand.

A varied programme including field trips and demonstrations mixed with official business has been organised for the conference. Hosted by the North Canterbury branch, the conference has been titled “Trees Under the Nor-West Skies.” The formal parts are being held at the University of Canterbury, at Ham. The conference opened yesterday with a welcome by the national president (Mr Owen Smith, of’ Rosewill, Timaru) and an address by the Minister of Forests (Mr Elworthy). Field trips and practical demonstrations will start today. The tour party will travel to Amberley this morning to inspect shelterbelt plantings established tocontrol wind erosion, and Mr D. Wethey, of the North Canterbury Catchment Board, will demonstrate the correct method of planting and establishing trees. The next stop will be at Hawarden were the party will look at amenity and shelter plantings on the propery of Mr J. L. Clark-Hall (Mount MacDonald), and inspect farm forestry plantings on the Mount Mason farm of Mr S. Barker.

This evening Mr Clive Anstey, of the Forest Research Institute will present an address titled “Planting for the Rural Landscape." Visits to the Forest Research Institute and the School of Forestry at Ham will fill tomorrow morning and in the afternoon presentations will be made to the best farm foresters in the South Island and North Island. Two speakers from the Forest Research Institute, Mr J. Baineaves (Rangiora),

and Mr I. Nicholas (Rotorua), will address the gathering in the evening. Thursday’s field trip will take the..party to the Forest Service nursery at Eyreton and to Eyrewell Forest. The tour will then inspect the Elanned milling of shelterelts on the Ashley Gorge property of Mr R. H. M. Johnston, and look over the Okuku Pass station which is being used for an integrated forestry and farming project. Several interesting remits have been put forward by branches to the conference. One remit asks for the association to press for private lending institutions to recognised forest areas as suitable collateral for raising loans.

Other remits include asking the Forest Service to subdivide its smaller forests for sale, to private individuals and that the association establish model timber and log sale contracts as a guideline for farmers. A description of some of the properties to be visited during the conference is: MOUNT MacDONALD The Mount MacDonald property of Mr R. J. ClarkHall (Hawarden) has a total of 21 hectares planted in pinus radiata. When purchased by Mr P. Clark-Hall in 1950, the property was a bare block with very few trees. A total of 65 species of eucalyptus have been planted on the property — 27 of which have survived. There are also 50 species of deciduous trees growing. Shelter from the northwest wind is essential for growth. After various experiments shelterbelts were planted with one row of Cupressus Arizonica and one row of pruned Pinus radiata. On some of the exposed downland, short windbreaks (two to three chains long) have been planted across the north east corners into which sheep can drift during southwest storms. Fifty nut trees ■ are also

growing on the property under a trickle irrigation system. MOUNT MASON A total of 91 hectares has been planted in trees on the Mount Mason property of Mr S. Barker (Hawarden). Eighty-five hectares has been planted in Pinus radiata (mostly of the elite strain), and other trees include oregon and other species of pine. As well 16 hectares of flax, native bush and lake surrounds have been fenced in. Poplar pole plantings have met with limited success because of the dry summers and high winds. Cattle have grazed some plantings since 1965 but the closing in of the overhead tree canopy has reduced the usefulness of the feed. ASHLEY GORGE A planned programme of removal and replanting of shelterbelts' is under way at the Ashley Gorge property of Mr R. H. M. Johnston.

The 1800 hectare property includes about 240 hectares of native bush which has no commercial value, but its continued existence- is regarded as being important for conservation and aesthetic reasons, as well as shelter. A variety of species has been used in the shelterbelts, but a combination of two rows of Pinus radiata (to give quick shelter) and a slower-growing species formed the basis of most plantings in the 1950 s and 60s. The slow growing trees include Deodara, Douglas Fir, and Cupressus Arizonica. Some single row shelterbelts of Arizonicas and double row belts of Douglas Fir and Thuja Plicata were established in the late 19605.

Two rows of slow growing species planted together, such as Douglas Fir and Arizonicas (and later, pruned Pinus radiata) have also been used in shelterbelts. Last year, the Forest Service introduced several different species of Eucalyptus to the farm, and several other woodlots have been established. CLAXBY The planting of trees for shelter and timber has been a feature of the Claxby property of Mr M. Spencer-1 Bower for many years. The

farm now has 50km of plantations with 6.4 km being planted in the last two years. Six rows of trees are normally planted with the two or three inside rows pruned for post or timber production. Cupressus Arizonica is used on the northern sides of fields and colourful trees and honey locusts are included to give a varied effect. The best species of Eucalyptus is proving to be Delegatensis. OKUKU PASS The) Okuku Pass station, which was purchased by the Crown in 1973, is being used for an integrated farmingforestry project. The aim of the programme is to demonstrate the value of the integration of farming and forestry as a form of land management. As well as producing timber, it is hoped the project will encourage hill country farmers to diversify production. The Okuku Pass project is unique because it is largely based on unimproved native tussock pastures of relatively low grazing potential and of lower forest site index than areas in the North Island where similar projects are being attempted. The integrated areas will be established with Pinus radjata planted ?t 1000 stems per hectare. The silvicultural plan has been designed to produce high quality sawlogs in the shortest time,