CORRESPONDENCE.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 5 August 1921, Page 3

CORRESPONDENCE.

“0, WOODMAN, SPARE THAT TREE."

(To the Editor.)

Sir,—l was astonished to read in your issue of the 2nd inst. that the local body in charge of the Waiopehu Scenic Reserve was departing from its proper function of planting trees to carry out that of the vandal, i.e., desstroying trees, and its authority for so doing was the advice of Mr P. Black and Mr .Cockayne, which advice is presumed to be that of experts. I would ask, sir, are these, experts connected* with our Forestry Department? —because in these days and the | future! when afforestation is gaining more and more attention, we require areas for demonstration purposes, and if these areas are puplic property like the Waiopehu Scenic Reserve, so much the better. Anyone can go there at any time, anyhow, and stay as long as they like, and take particular notice that, the exotic trees planted there DO NOT destroy the native growth. The practical experience of the past 25 years proves that those particular trees, now condemned, have not only protected but fostered the native growth, and if it had not been for the protection given to tbe reserve*, mainly by the late Mr Peter Stewart on the western side, and also by my, late father and Mr E. Lancaster on the eastern side, there would have been no Waiopehu Scenic Reserve there today. Is the proved practical result of twenty,-five years to be thrown away because of what these experts surmise may happen. Now, sir, I did the actual planting of those exotic trees, growing the bluegums from seed, and my father procured the other varieties from a nurseryman. Various varieties were ’planted to see which would succeed in locality, and at the same time preserve the native bush, which was gelling weather-beaten. This is the reason that none of the pinus family of trees were planted, as these will destroy native growth, and even smother blackberry and gorse. Soipe of the slower-growing exotics were 1 destroyed, smothered by the native growth that came away directly it was afforded protection, and any damage to the native growth has been done by the bracken fern and the. resultant fires. Where I planted many of the bluegums, redwoods, etc., in what wasi at the time open space covered with rank cocksfoot grass; is now covered with numerous tree ferns and native scrub up to twenty feet high, and I notice a giegie vine starting to climb one of the gum trees. When the Rev. Mr Simmonds was in this district lecturing on forestry, he inspected this reserve, and said that it was a remarkable demonstration of timber trees planted and flourishing in perfectly natural conditions. Now, sir, apart from the necessity of retaining all the protection possible for the native growth and the planting of morp trees instead ( of destroying those that have taken twenty-five years to reach their present size, I have another reason why those bluegums should be preserved, at any rate until they reach maturity, which will be another fifteen years at. least, as the Forestry Department considers forty years as the term required to reach that stage. Some people tell me that they have no success in planting various eucalyptus trees. Others complain of their trees being uprooted by the wind. As mentioned before, I grew these trees from seed, and the planting and preparation for planting was according to instructions from an English book on forestry which I studied at the time. None of the trees planted by this method have yet been uprooted, and we get some destructive winds at times, and all have done well. If the Domain Board can see its way to leave those trees (they have been thinned enough by fire already) for the remaining fifteen years*, the Forestry Department may use them as an illustration to demonstrate that particular method of planting.—l am, etc. J. P. PROUSE. It was stated at the meeting of the Board that twenty trees are to be taken out, and only a few of these are large ones. They are situated on the boundary between the reserve and the six acres subsequently purchased, and along the road boundary of the six acres—Ed., Chronicle.