A NEW INDUSTRY.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LII, Issue 167, 12 July 1918, Page 2

A NEW INDUSTRY.

The suitability of pinus insignis timber for making fruit cases has ■ been amply demonstrated, and an examination of the consignments, of fruit arriving at the central markets from tbe country (says the Melbourne Age) almost any day in the season; wilt show how largely it is used for that 'purpose.. Some makers make a speciality of pine oases, and are ready purchasers of the timber, the supplies consisting mainly of trees formerly planted for shelter and ornamental purposes, winch, f r one reason oV another, are being cut downi. The disappearance of tliCrse fir.e old trees is in many cases a lose to the locality, a s it is seldom that any others are planted in their place. The Government pine plantations at Cro?v.-ick and - elsewhere are good as an instalment, but in comparison! with the requirements of the fruit trade alone their extent is insignificant. The annaal report recently published of the Sou h Australian Forestry department gives ?orae striking figures, showing the value of this pinte as a timber pvoduci*.

At the sawmills' attached to the Butidaleer, Wirrabara and south-en*.:, pnie plantations 596.529. cases have . bc-tii made "and sold since 1903. Thei-e lave had a gross value of £20,150 !?« €d, and have returned £4255 to revenue, working expenses amounting to £15,895. An area" of six acres of trees. 33 years old, at Mount Mclntyre plantation, Kalangadoo, furnished 100,000 cases in two years, yielding a return of £2OOO for milling expenses in revenueThis gives over 16.000 cases to the ncre. and «i- gross volume- of 100,000 super feet per a~re. "This, it is reported," remarks the conservator (Mr Walter Hill'), has beeffl secured from this nine in, New Zealand, but never, I believe, in any other country."