UTILITY VALUE OF TREES

Hawera Star, Volume LIV, 17 June 1935, Page 10

UTILITY VALUE OF TREES

FORESTRY LECTURE AT KAPONGA.

ADDRESS BY MR J. S. TOSLAND

(From Our OKvn Correspondent). Tho value of trees from a national as well as an individual aspect was emphasised during the course of an address delivered by Mr J. S. Tosland, of Pihama, at the monthly meeting of t.he Kaponga, branch of the Fanners’ Union on Thursday evening. The preMr P„ D. Dagg, occupied the chair, and there was a fair attendance of members. A reply was received from Mr C. A. Wilkinson, M.P., intimating lie would be pleased to accede to the request of the branch, and deliver an address on the mortgage corporation legislation passed last session. It was decided to hold the meeting in the Kaponga town hall and to advertise the slate. Matters in connection with the branch’s annual social and dance on July 4 were ad- \ a need a further stage. Mrs Pi. 1). I Dagg’s offer to convene a ladies’ meeting was accepted and a further meeting is to he held on Tuesday next. A resume of the work of the recent provincial conference at Hawera was given by Mr S. J. llollard, who represented the branch at the conference. Mr Hollard said that three of the four remits forwarded bv the Kaponga branch were carried by conference.

Prefacing his address on forestry Mr Tosland said that at the.outset it was necessary to consider tjie relationshi]> between the animal and the vegetable kingdom. Were the vegetable kingdom to fail the animal kingdom would disappear. Both were equally dependent upon each other. He instanced the fact that the vegetable kingdom existed long before animals. Vegetable life upon the earth first took the form of a- species of seaweed i and moss and progressed through various stages until trees came. The early trees were of the. fern variety, New Zealand being most fortunate insomuch as it possessed a great many pungas which was one of the most primitive trees in existence. Jt was considered that some three million years had clasped since the punga assumed its shape. As time went on the various trees came into being, the lecturer explaining how the roots and leaves of trees built up the soil of a country. Instances were quoted of several countries which had destroyed their forests before the trees had completed their soil function, with the result that tjie soil was left in a very light condition and having no depth. Heavy rains and winds upon this class jf country resulted in the soil being ivashed away, leaving large tracts of lescrt land which was unsuitable for jultivation purposes. New Zealand in ts natural state was one of the most loosely wooded places on the globe, it was estimated that a large pine tree lbsorbed about two tons of moisture )er day. Forests induced rainfall and •onsorved water. Every effort should >e made to conserve forests, but not it the expense of good land. Trees ihoulcl he planted on suitable but ithonvi.se unproductive spots on the arm. New Zealand trees had been mind tra withstand drought and variant insect posts, but their drawback fas slowness of growth. Unless it was lesired to plant trees for beauty only t was necessary to fall back on im-

perted trees which would grow to useful proportions within a lifetime. Trees of the pine and eucalyptus varieties were most suitable. For shelter purposes the speaker advocated three to I four rows as one row was too draughty. 'Frees should be cultivated for universal shelter, universal utility and for timber purposes. Several methods of planting and priming were given, the speaker outlining the uses of various types either for farm or commercial purposes. Concluding his address Mr Tosland said that serious consideration should be given to the proposal to plant trees on both sides of every mountain .stream in the district. The* trees would have the effect ol breaking winds, holding the stream within its hounds and the water would clear more quickly after a flood, and we would have mere timber at our disposal. He considered that the ‘Government would be serving a- very excellent purpose if it were to give a lead in this direction.