GROWTH OF TRESS IN SCORIA SOIL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVI, Issue 5499, 2 July 1879, Page 3

GROWTH OF TRESS IN SCORIA SOIL.

We referred yesterday in our report of the proceedings of the Auckland Institute to a paper read by Mr. Justice UiUied, upon the growth of trees planted by himself on his land, at the foot of Mount Eden. The paper was crowded out of yesterday's issue through the late ariival of important telegraphic intelligence;. It will ba seen that the object of his Honor is to induce other growers of trees, whether on similar or different soils, to make like careful observations at the time of planting, and during the process of growth. A table of comparative results in respect to growth and nature of soil would be of great value. The following is the paper : — Notes on the growth of certain trees on scoria soil near Mount Eden, Auckland. In autumri, 1566, I planted a variety of trees on a piece of scoria land at the foot of Mount Eden, where I had just built my house, and have now (February, 1879) carefully measured them with the following results. The land was wild scoria laud, the surface covered with scoria boulders, the partial disentegretion of which had formed soil below, in which were also imbedded scoria boulders. At a greater depth were masses of scoria rock and aßh partially decomposed, and in many places forming rocky cavities. Th e surface vegetation was grass and fern. The young trees, when planted, were from one to two feet high, probably two to three-year-old seedlings. Oaks and other deciduous trees" did not thrive, and ultimately died off, except the upright poplar, one badly f;rown elm, and the weeping willow. Peach trees grow rapidly and fruit well for a few years (about seven), and then cease to bear. Apple trees grow well and fruit freely for a few years, and then die off from a sort of dry-rot at the roots. Plums, apricots, and cherries do badly in this soil. It will be seen from the annexed table that coniferous trees grow wonderfully in such soil, especially P. Insignis, tuberciilata and radiataj as also Cupressus Macrocarpa, Taxodium, Sempervirens, and Araucaria Exceha, The following are the results of barely thirteen years' growth:— Trees. H.ight Girtb. Ft.in. Ft in. Pinun Insig- 1 These are very difficult ilia .. 58 0— 7 6I to distinguish until thojDo. t'J 0— 9 I j cone, and even the InP. Tubercu- \ signis and Tubercalata lata -. *4 6— 510 j are difficult, their cones Do. 64 0 — 6 6 ! being eo variable. All P. Radiata 40 0— 6 0 j lopped to 6 feet from the 1)0. -49 0— 6 6) ground. P. Mnricata 32 0— i 0 Lopped to 0 feet ■\ Ttaia tree, grown auongst Do. 35 0— 3 7f P. Pinea>ter, may account ffor its greater height and J les3 girtb. Lopped to 6ft. Do. 87 0— 4 6 Lopped to 4 feet Do. 22 0— 4 0 Not lopped P. Canari- _ ensis .. 32 0— 210 Do. P. Pine- ( A. large number of them aster SO to 35—4 to 4.4-i all lopped to 6 feet from {ground P. Pinea (stone pino .. 27 0— 311 Xopped 5 feet Do. 20 0— 4 3 Not lopped -j Both these are probably P. Sylvestris (slightly crippled from too (Scotch fir) 19 o—l 01 close proximity to InsigDo. 21 6—2 0J nis and Raaiata P. "Lougifo- _ lia .. 21 0— 3 6 Taken 30th June P. i'urailo 4 6— — Branching from ground Do. 5 0— — Do. Silvestra (Leucedendron argenteum)27 0— 4 3 Cut Down Do. 29 0— 4 4 Cnpressus Macrocarpa 29 0— 7 0 Lopped to 6 feet from ground Do. 39 0— 7 2 Do. C. Toruiosa 22 0— — Dense foliage to the C. Lawaoni- ground ana .. 21 0 — — Do. C. Sempervirens (spreading .. 31 0— 2 8 Do. 31 o—3 2 Abies Kxcelsa (spruce) 25 0— 1 6 Probably stunted from proximity to P. Insignis Cedrua Deodara .. 21 0— 2 0 Leader twice broken off. Lopped 5 feet . C. Atlentica 20 0— 1 8) , Do. 17 o—l 7 Y Very graceful tieea C. Libani IS o—l 4) Araucaria Excelsa (Nofolkl. pine) .. 35 1— 3 1 Lopped to 6 feet high Uo. 35 0— 2 5 Not lopped, but a little mora exposed Sequoiaq Gigantea (Wei- f Slow-growing at first, liDgton) 17 6— 3 0 ( but malting a thick butt Do. 23 0— 2 10J Taxodium Sempervirens (Kedwood) 2S 6—3 C Lopped to 6 feet high Ficua Lucida 23 o—2 S JTodocarpus To tar a (Tolara) 15 o—l 4 Weeding Willow (cutti- g planted au-tumn,lß6--J42 G—6 4 Taken 30th June, 1579 Upright poplar (10ft. hi*h wheu planted) ... 49 o—4 3 Several of theaj. My experience shews me that lopping the lower branches promotes growth in height, and by allowing a free circulation of air from below cheeks the ravages of red spider, thrip and other insect peßts. Thomas B. Gillies.