FARMING KAURI TREES FOR GUM.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 12544, 11 April 1904, Page 7

FARMING KAURI TREES FOR GUM.

Under the above heading Mi. John Laird MeColl, Newmarket, write* at considerable 'length. Ho oorninenoot by stating that " I havo road with much interest Mr. Dysart's views on the above subject; but I would like to point out a difficulty in tanning th» kauri gum." He then proceeds to state that tapping trees is not a now industry, (bat it has been carried on in Norway and other countries for resin and turpentine. But such pine trees are of rapid growth, ami tree planting being carried on extensively, a supply of young and growing trees is kept up for the tapping process, so that replanting and tapping go on simultaneously. The slow growth of the kauri tree would prevent this work being done, many kauri trees being, in his opinion, over 500 years old. Ho thinks the kauri and Maori are doomed to extinction, 'the gum gathered in a liquid form is much inferior to that dug from the soil in solid lumps, and varnish made from old gum is the best, and that varnish kept in leaden vats is improved by the keeping. Ho thinks it is only from young trees that bleeding will be successful, for lie lias out down kauri trees decayed at the centre, and from the centre to the sap wood the timber was quite dry and seasoned, and the outside sap wood in. a state of decay and worthless; showing that after a certain age tin- kauri begins to decay naturally. Ho is also of opinion that the, trees will not stand bleeding for many years. In discussing the point as to the tree which is to tnko' the place of the kauri, lie diaws attention to the kitara. as it is n quick grower, and is likely to be plantar] extensively. Ho advocates the establishment.of nurseries, by the Government in both the South and North Islands, as treas may be suitable in the North that ♦would sulfur from the greater cold in the South. The Government should make known the results of their planting experiments, as a guide to the settlers generally when planting trees. He thinks settlers should avoid planting Finns insignia and Cupressus macrocarpa, as they are entirely worthless as timber trees, though useful foi shelter purposes. He locks for great changes being made on the face of the colony, by the establishment of the white man here, and looks forward to the time when tree planting will be engaged in extensively, and when the present swamps, where now the " hollow sounding bittern'' guards her nest, will be drained, and become fields of waving corn. There can l»o no doubt that tree planting will have to be largely engaged in within a few years, if a sufficient supply of timber for local purposes is to be obtained in the colony.