FOREST CONSERVATION

Evening Star, Issue 17921, 17 March 1922, Page 7

FOREST CONSERVATION

THE PROGRESS OP TREEPLANTING.

Before leaving Wellington, where they had been in conference for some days, for their homes the members of the State forest Service were able to show that, although tho_ department is still in process of organisation and development, a groat deal has been accomplished already. Mr W. T. Morrison, acting conservator of forests iu tho Otago-Oanterbury district, stated to a ‘ Dominion ‘ representative that there was not a great deni of indigenous timber left in tho locality he controlled. Afforestation work, however, was going on apace for some considerable time, plantations for the ultimate production of timber having been in operation, for the last twenty years. Sixteen thousand acres had been planted with exotic trees as experiments, but it was found that only six varieties succeeded for the purpose of timber production. The American pine was the most successful for rapid growth, and camo to maturity in from forty-five to sixty years. Tho Corsican pine was also doing well,_ and was useful for general constructional purposes. Finns insignis, although looked upon as an inferior wood, was very quick-growing, and had proved a great success in the Canterbury district. It matured in twenty-five to thirty years, and yielded up to 100,000 ft per acre on private property and public reserves. Tho European larch bad been tried, but they had found it was liable to destruction by the grass grub, and was subject to other diseases, so its germination had been discontinued until tho result of those planted was ascertained. A number of varieties of eucalyptus trees had also been tried, but frost bad caused considerable destruction, and only one or two varieties had proved suitable. Tho eucalyptus vimaAs and tho eucalyptus gunmu were the frostproof varieties chiefly grown in tho South Island. The Douglas fir (Oregon pine) was a timber tree which had received a lot of attention. It did well provided it was planted in good soil and under special conditions. In the high country it was found to bo rather tender as tho leaders got interfered with ; but in tho northern portions of Canterbury it bad proved very successful. Tho attitude of private laudowners had been very encouraging as well as the forest extension operations by private enterprise and local bodies. The latter movement had only been commenced a year ago, and had been mot with great success, there being every evidence of increasing interest in the work. They had a forest extension officer who was to visit every part of tho district, with the object of diffusing knowledge in connection with tree-planting and lecturing to members of farmers’ unions, etc., with regard to tho preparation of planting areas. Special precautions were taken by tho service to protect forest areas from fire. Fireguard stations were placed on prominent positions in proximity to forest areas, and connected by telephone to tho administrative headquarters to advise tho officers in charge of any sign of fire, thus enabling assistance to bo sent promptly. In addition, tho interest of settlers living in the locality of forest reserves and State forests was enlisted in the same direction. In some, cases honorary rangers were appointed to assist the department, and an endeavor was being made to appoint as many of these helpers as possible. Publicity was found to bo a helpful factor in the work, and, in fact, was a necessity, if interest was to be aroused. Tho question of forestry and a continuity in the timber supply was a mat-

ter of such national importance that the officials were pleased to note that the public wore taking a real interest in it, and the work was meeting with encouraging support.