WHANGAREI FOREST RESERVE

Northern Advocate, 18 February 1926, Page 8

WHANGAREI FOREST RESERVE

REPORT ON POSSIBILITIES SOIL IK EXCELLENT CONDITION. A report upon the block of 402 acres permanently vested in the Whangarei Borough Council for afforestation purposes has been furnished by Mr. A, Brett, Acting Forest Extension Officer. The area, which has a considerable road frontage and is of easy access is situated at Parahaki, about three miles from Whangarei. The land was at one time a proclaimed gum field and has been extensively worked and dug-over, “The soil is the ordinary greyish gum land, fairly heavy, and in an excellent condition for, tree-planting operations to be started at once," states the report. “Except on the back ridge, very little clearing or burning is necessary and the formation of the block is such that there is no necessity to spend any considerable amount of cash in reading. “An efficient firebreak can be maintained along the road with very little annual expense and if the top of the back ridge is kept clear very little danger of fire from outside sources need be entertained. An additional safeguard would be an unplanted strip about two chains wide running frohi road to top of back ridge through centre of block. This could probably be kept clean by burning in damp weather or under other favourable circumstances and would be insurance against total destruction if an accident did occur, PINUS RADIATA RECOMMENDED.' “The species recommended for the larger portion of the block is Pinus radiata (two-year-old trees), but there are a number of easy shallow valleys with damp bottoms where Californian ■redwopd or the better-class eucalypti, I such as E. saligna, E. botryoides, E. pilularls, or E. eugenioides, could with advantage be planted. “The district has undoubtedly a big future in fruit-growing, dairying, etc. The present supplies of timber are now being cut out rapidly and there should be an assured market in the future for any commercial species which are planted. Little planting of any extent seems to have been done in the locality owing, no doubt, to the ease with which timber was previously procured and the mild climate, shelter not being so necessary as in colder and more rigorous localities.

“The soils of the district are, very .varied, and Pinus radiata does well on all of them except where the rock formation is very near the surface, and soil necessarily shallow. Many instances of speedy natural regeneration were noted, especially at Anzac Park and on the Parahaki Block. On adjacent farms Californian redwood and several good species of eucalypti planted .about 40 years ago have made good growth, and are very healthy, with as yet no appearace of cessation of“ growth. - TREE-PLANTING EXENDITURE.

‘' The council is prepared to spend £2OO annually in planting the block. There seems to be little necessity for immediate fencing, and the whole amount can be spent on other work. The block has been recently surveyed, and a corrected plan is now in the council’s office. With, the money at their disposal, it is considered that the council may undertake annual work as follows: —60 acres, 700 two-year-old Pinus radiata per acre (42,000 trees), at 63s per 1000, £132 6s; planting 60 acres a't 15s per acre, £45; carting trees to ground and heeling in, £lO.. These figures allow a small margin for clearing and supervision. “Trees are supplied freight paid to Whangarei, and could be forwarded in two or more lots? if required. They should be removed from eases at onee on arrival at ground and heeled-in in trenches in a suitable position on ground, on no account should unpacking of trees be delayed longer than necessary. “If it is decided when suitable areas are available to plant Californian redwood or eucalypti, these can be supplied at list prices, the difference in cost not amounting to a great deal. The first-mentioned are not obtainable this season in quantities, and should, if required, be booked in advance. The planting of these species could be delayed with advantage so that the entrances to the valleys to bo planted can be closed by the planting of Pinus radiata, thus giving shelter as early, as possible. Small, hardy two-year-old pines will be best for the locality, and 7ilanting can be started as soon as trees are sufficiently hardened off in Rotorua Nursery to be forwarded."