Plantations of Native Trees

Manawatu Times, Volume 66, Issue 80, 3 April 1941, Page 9

Plantations of Native Trees

On a sandy quarter-acre at Faekakatiki, Captain Sanderson has had a remarkable auccess with a plantation of about 70 species of coastal nativo trees. When he began his task 15 years *2O he left lupins to serve as a shelter until the young trees were strongly established. The section is exposed to southerlies and westerlies, but the trees have protected one another, as they do in nature’s own forests. Today the plantation has a height of 25ft. in some parts; it, is flourishing, it doe* not look man-made; indeed, an average visitor would believe that it was a piece

of uatural native bush. The explanation of this success is that Captain Sanderson has been a careful co-

operator with Nature, and has followed the example set by the “great mother” in the making of forests. He does not tidy up uuder the trees. He leaves fallen foliage and twigs to decay into humus, which retains moisture and provides nourishment.