VALUE OF TREES

Evening Star, Issue 26067, 3 April 1947, Page 8

VALUE OF TREES

DISADVANTAGES OUTWEIGHED PLANTING A DUTY » “ In every normal person there is an inherent love for orderliness and for beauty. It only requires the proper environment to awaken that appreciation for the finer things of life,” said Mr M. J. Barnett, director of the Christchurch botanio gardens; parks, and reserves, in an address at the annual meeting of the Dunedin Amenities Society on Friday. ‘lt is only the stress of economic affairs and the force of circumstances that compel the people to live in uninviting surroundings and in streets devoid of beauty,” the speaker continued. “It is, of course, true that there will be some few citizens who ’will object to street planting—-no doubt there always will be a minority against any proposal, no matter how worthy it may be. Nevertheless, it is surprising how even the minority will favourably view a project after it' is brought into being. Experience proves that once the trees are properly established and display their beauty, the average citizen becomes their most zealous guardian, and will resent any attempt to have them removed or even cut back in compliance with the law.” “ The sceptic might ask the "pertinent question, ‘ What is the real value of trees in the life of the community? We recognise the value of trees for the timber they produce, but apart from this aspect, in what way are they beneficial to the community? Are they not likely to become a nuisance in our cities and a source of needless expenditure?’ These are questions which demand answers. From the viewpoint of health, trees play an important part. Any student of elementary botany will inform us that trees purify the atmosphere by absorbing large quantities of carbonic acid gas exhaled by man, and in return give back to the atmosphere pure oxygen that is needed by the animal world. Thus the animal and vegetable world complement each other, the one furnishes the conditions and forces by which the other maintains life and health. In the heat of summer the temperature of the streets is intensified by the reflected heat from the pavements, roadways, and walls of buildings. Besides breaking up or deflecting the direct and reflected rays of the sun, the foliage of the trees reduces the temperature by the discharge of large quantities of moisture through a process known as transpiration. Trees play an important part in encouraging bird life. The farmer and orchardist will not welcome such a statement, but it must be recognised that tlie greatest enemy to plant life is the insect, and the greatest enemy to the insect is the bird—without our feathered friends the struggle for existence would become a serious problem indeed. But trees have another very important aspect and that is their uplifting influence on the populace. One authority states that ‘ the uplifting influence of an environment of trees is such as to make people not only happier, but better.’ THE CASE AGAINST TREES. Mr Barnett went on to present the disadvantages of trees. “ The engineer will remind you,” he said, “ that the roots of trees burst the kerbings, penetrate into and block the drain ! pipes and sewer connections, the leaves j and litter find their way into and choke . the water channels, and the canopy of branches helps to preclude the sunlight from the roadway during the winter time and thus keeps it in a damp state, thereby hastening the deteriox-ation of its surface. The branches interfere with electric power and light lines, telephone communications, telegraph wives, and they also interfere with street lighting. Lastly, there is the ever-last-

ing expenditure on gathering up the leaves during the autumn time. It is a -wonder that any self-respecting tree could survive under such a weighty indictment.” Examining the evidence against trees, Mr Barnett said that, though the damage trees did to kerbings and to drain pipes could not be.: denied, this would not happen if the right type of tree were chosen and given- ample space. Discussing fallen leaves filling side channels, Mr Barnett -said that it is extremely doubtful if the cost of removal of leaves from the streets was as great as the removal of litter when horse transport was more popular. Electric and telephone wires, he said, were a menace to trees, and trees to them. Mr Barnett gave instances in Britain and America of wires being laid, underground, and said that, though the initial cost might be. heavier, it was cheaper in the long run, because the cost of repair and general maintenance was not so .great as the overhead system. • 1 . In conclusion, Mr Barnett said that the two main points were to plant trees and care for them. “It is not only our fluty and the duty of such societies as this one to plant unselfishly for posterity, but also to preserve and foster our trees—to accord them the attention and the protection that they must have and which they will so richly repay. By education, by precept and example, it is our task to instil a greater love for trees in the younger generation and teach them to appreciate their value not only for their commercial uses, but also as an integral part of the community.” . j '. '