A VALUABLE TREE—THE ACACIA

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXII, Issue 154, 15 June 1932, Page 11

A VALUABLE TREE—THE ACACIA

PLANTATIONS FOR FARMS. When establishing plantations in this district, farmers have left out one of the most valuable trees that can be grown for use on the farm, namely, the acacia. There are a great many varieties grouped under this species, but the thorny acacia is the one particularly referred to. That this tree, grown under proper conditions, is an extremely valuable asset on a farm, was impressed on a representative of this paper after viewing the splendid plantation on Drumpeel Station,. Otane. The present generation have to thank the foresight of Mr A. M. Williams, who established this plantation thirty years ago. The acacia appreciates a loam with a considerable quantity of sand, and this is amplified by the greater growth of the “Drumpeel” plantation on the soil adjoining the Waipawa river, where the soil is of the above composition. A great proportion of the land on the Heretaunga Plains is also mainly composed of loam and sand from the action of floods; therefore this district is ideal for acacia plantations. One of the fundamental principles in planting acaeia trees is to plant them close together—about four feet being a suitable distance—to force them to grow straight with a suitable trunk for posts. As the plantation matures, it will be necessary to thin them out, but from the early stages the rejects are of value on the farm.

There are manifold advantages in growing acacia for use on the farm. For fencing material and posts this timber is unsurpassed. It is on record that an acacia strainer has been in use at Frimley for fifty years, and is still perfectly sound. Any of the smaller growths unsuitable for posts make excellent droppers for temporary fences. The branches and rejects make splendid firewood. But where the land is waterlogged, acacia posts simply refuse to rot, evidently wet feet making them tougher than ever. Acaeias split freely, therefore the slabs make substantial bridges over drains, etc.

Mr Gordon Williams pointed out to the writer a slab of this timber used as a block in the drain where stock get water, which has been covered by water for twenty years, but is still perfectly sound. Acacias are frequently grown on unsuitable soil, with correspondingly disappointing results, the timber being only useful for firewood. The trees under these conditions have a stunted and straggly appearance, but the “ Drumpeel ” plantation is an outstanding illustration of this valuable tree grown under suitable conditions.

Mr Gordon Williams stated that the purchase of posts did not now figure amongst the expenses for running the station, owing to his father’s foresight in planting acacias thirty years ago.