A GROWING ASSET

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 172, 17 April 1937, Page 14

A GROWING ASSET

Afforestation Work of Petone Borough RESULT OF FORESIGHT Trees, trees, and still more trees Twenty-four thousand of them; all fine, healthy specimens of a pinus family. Briefly this is the afforestation work of the Petone Borough Council in the hills to the north of the town. Half an hour’s brisk tramp up a long gully brings one to the scene of this magnificent vista—a scene that is a true joy to the forestry minded. In these days of rapidly disappearing forests work such as this undertaken by the Petone council is commendable. Taking a long-sighted view of the plantings the project must he regarded as a fine investment productive af a valuable asset in tlie years to come. In the near future the council will be saved recurring expense in the control of ragwort, gorse, and blackberry as a result of suppression of the growth by the young forest. It was largely due to the great foresight of Mr. G. London that the Petone council has to-day this growing asset. In the days when unemployed labour was

a greater problem than it is to-day Mr. London in conjunction with the council’s reserves department, and strongly supported by Mr. Ji. Toomath, at that time chairman of the committee, advocated an afforestation scheme for the profitable utilisation of unemployed labour. Vacant land in the waterworks area was at that time rapidly becoming infested with ragwort, gorse, and blackberry, and was also subject to erosion. It was contended at the time that planting these areas would in a comparatively short time rectify the position which was growing serious. Apart from the timber standpoint the forest, it was claimed, would prove beneficial as a result of its rapid suppression of foreign growth. Moreover, it would ultimately result in a saving of the ever-recurring expense to the council of cutting noxious weeds in the areas planted. Furthering his advocacy. Mr. London declared that the timber must in time stand as a great asset as the maud for soft woods was rapidly increasing. Success of Plantings. This year will see the fourth planting. The first year’s planting was carried out by relief workers under the supervision of the council's reserves foreman, the average number on the job being 13. In that year 5000 trees were planted on the Takapau Mock. The following year subsidised labour was utilised with better results, and 9000 yearlings were planted on the same block. Still greater progress was made with plantings in the third year, when 5000 macrocarpas were established in addition to a further 5000 members of the pinus family. This year there are 8000 two-year-old trees ready for planting out as soon as the conditions are favourable. Being well suited to the conditions, the trees planted have made splendid strikes, and the percentage of failures has indeed been small. Trees planted in the first year now average Oft. to 10ft. in height, and are making remarkable growth. Being now well above the gorse, they have already come to a stage where they can, in a short time, be expected to save the council money by the suppression of noxious growth. When the land at the top clam was planted it was nothing but a mass of gorse, eight feet high in places, and this was first of all burned and left to make some growth for shelter for the young trees. Although a noxious weed, gorse actually has a good use when it comes to afforestation work, as it is a great help to young trees provided it is not allowed to suppress them. This is especially the case on exposed and windswept faces. The council has adopted the wise policy of keeping tracks open in the gorse for a period of two years, by which time the trees are of sufficient size and strength to fend for themselves. Any failures are “blanketed,” or tilled in. Seedlings in Nursery. So as to have seedlings ready for planting out each year, the council has two nurseries on sections in the heart of the town. In these there are 8000 two-year-olds ready for planting out this year, and a further 10,000 seedlings being eared for in readiness for next year’s planting season. By far the greater bulk of these are fine, healthy specimens of pinus muricata and pinus radiata. There is . also a good supply of Cyprus lysinia, which are used for marginal plantings. For plantings on land nearer the coast and in exposed, windy places where tlie salt air has an effect on growth, the more hardy muricata has been selected, as it stands up better to salt air. The forests are surrounded by a double row. of macropatas, which are planted primarily to ensure future supplies of rails and posts for the borough. For this purpose there are to be seen in the nursery 1000 sturdy young seedlings ready for future planting. Generally the practice adopted is to wrench the young trees ready for the current year's planting during April, so as to make possible a start on the actual planting in May. The process, however, is entirely dependent upon the weather conditions, and the state of the ground.

The recent spell of dry weather has hardened the ground too much to allow the wrenching to be done so far, but as soon as the soil is softened by a good hard downpour of rain the work will be pushed ahead. Future Prospects. There is still a large area of hill property in the borough that could profitably be planted. Under an extensive undertaking this could be completed in from 10 to 15 years. When that was done the plantation areas could be declared a forest reserve and the publie could be excluded from entering it, or a more rigid control for the suppression of fires could be enacted. Any slackening up in this borough's present policy of yearly plantings would be regretable. If allowed to get away under noxious weeds the laud will be absolutely worthless; and despite tlie annual expenditure of money on weeds control, there is evidence to-day of its encroachment. For an example of the asset forests can be the Petone council has only to hark back to a report a few months ago in which it was stated that realisation on the forest reserves of a southern local body would enable the elimination of all rates. It is claimed that with a continuance of the present afforestation policy the I’etone Borough Council in a few years to come will also be in a highly desirable financial position. Other local bodies have proved that there is a power of truth in the saying "there is wealth in trees,” and there is nothing to prevent the Petone council adding further evidence.