WHANGAREI AFFORESTATION

Northern Advocate, 10 August 1934, Page 9

WHANGAREI AFFORESTATION

SLOPES OP PAEAHAKI. DRAINAGE AND TREES/ The afforestation scheme on the eastern slopes of Parahaki will be completed by the Whangarei Borough Council next year. This season 24,000 trees were put in and there remain to be planted 30,000. The belt of pinus insignus will then stretch from the old Onerahi Road to the back of the new rifle butts, hear the Wharebra Road, embracing an area of 500 acres, on which 300,000 trees will stand.

This work has been carried out under the supervision of Mr J. Wells, of Kamo Road, who, in conversation this morning, was able to impart some practical advice on afforestation in the North.

“The progress of the trees has been fairly satisfactory,” he said, “but in patches the take has been very poor. Some have reached a height of

30 feet in eight years, while a chain away, plantations made on the same

day are not two feet high. The secret of success in pinus and eucalyptus planting is drainage. The 'steeper the face, the better the tree will thrive. Wiwi rush indicates cold, wet and sour ground, upon which willows and poplars are the only species which can be expected to thrive. Even the bluey-white pipeclay country and the gumfields will produce good timber if properly drained.’ ’

As an illustration of the effect of drainage on eucalyptus, Mr Wells quoted the wind-break planted on Mr Beere’s property, facing the Whareora Eoad. Although put in over 20 years ago, most of the trees were ho higher than the fence, but a clump growing in dry ground were over 40 feet. ‘ Anzac Park. Mr Wells was also associated with the afforestation of Anzac Park, where 20 acres are standing in pinus insignis. Here some of the trees have developed to GO feet in twelve years. Eucalyptus was also experimented with, but it was difficult to find any trace of the GOO trees, planted over nine years ago. On a steeper slope facing the main South T?oad,' however, the Australian trees had done much better. In wet country, eucalyptus was affected by a disease known to gardeners as “die-back,” When first planted I the trees invariably made surprising progress, sprouting a thick mass of glossy leaves. However, within the year, the growth withered away, and the trees sprouted again, but did no more than reach their previous promise. Although in the ordinary way junus could be milled after 20 years, said Mr Wells, it was advisable to allow the tree considerably longer to fill out and develop. Like a growing boy, who rapidly reached the apex of his height, a tree needed time to mature and broaden.