VAST STATE ENTERPRISE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20378, 5 October 1929, Page 10 (Supplement)

VAST STATE ENTERPRISE.

The State led the way in afforestation. Its planting began in a humble way in 1896 at Rotorua and Waiotapu, partly as a means of employing prison labour. Nursery work occupied tho first two years ' and when in 1900, 20 acres of trees were planted out, the exotic forests were started. Year by year the new area increased and by tho time one year's planting ran into four figures the effort was regarded as remarkable. A few square miles of lustily-growing trees planted by tho hand of man was a sight to impress eyes accustomed solely to wild forest. Eventually a block of 7677 acres was established at Whakarewarewa and another of almost the same area at Waiotapu. These blocks contain many varieties of trees and much of the great work of to-day is based upon the results of these pioneer blocks. In some cases two varieties were mixed, sometimes in alternate lines, sometimes alternately in the rows; and the growth of less than 30 years has proved in some cases that one variety has so dominated tho position that the , other has been almost completely suppressed. Tho law of the survival of the fittest appears to havo been completely demonstrated in some cases. An illustration is a block of Weymouth pines and the austriaca variety at Waiotapu. The former, a' magnificent tree, has almost completely suppressed the other with- ' out the aid of the thinning axe. Again valuable lessons have been learned as to varieties most suitable for particular locations, and in the new planting they aro being applied. For instance, on the Kaingaroa Plain there is a huge depression, not deep by any means, but subject to climatic changes different from the* surrounding land. Tho right class of tree is known and mistakes are avoided. ... In 1913 a start was made with the planting on the Kaingaroa Plains, the vast plateau lying between the Urewera "hills and the ; Waiotapu-Taupo country. In the 1 16 years since then forest, practically ■ continuous, ha 3 been established over 160,000 acres, or 250 square mile 3. It is difficult for the average mind to conceive the magnitude of such an area. In the season ,now closing no less than 34,000 acres havo been planted, which, at the rate of 680 trees to the acre, represents 23,000,000 trees, a staggering figure. TViia BVstem of planting, which is the one generally adopted, gives a distance of eight feet between the trees. In the old plantations only four feet were allowed. This

has been proved to be too close, particularly in view of the need for more thinning and tho present lack of market foi the thinnings, from which part of tho cost of tho work might havo boon recovered. About two-thirds of the trses are planted as one-year seedlings, the chief varieties being Pinus radiata (insignis), Pinus muricata, the various euicalypts, and to somo oxtent, Douglas Fir. The remainder aro two-year stock represented by Douglas Fir, Pinus ponderosa, Corsican pine and Californian redwood. The programme for the season now closing on tho Kaingaroa Plains was 23,000 acres, but in view of the acute position in regard to unemployment it was expanded to 34,000 acres, which absorbed 600 men. Probably few avenuos of employment created to relievo unemployment havo been more truly productive in effect than the increased tree planting operations. To fully appreciate the tremendous task of planting 23,000,000 trees in one season, evon on the most " easy" planting country, as pumico land is, one has not only to consider tho organisation of the gangs but tho staff work involved. In tho first placo the seed has to be sown in the nurseries one or two seasons ahead and the seedlings handled ! under the skilful direction which produces sturdy plants of tho requisite size and root system. The land also has to be surveyed and roads laid out with a careful eye to their facilitating tho transport of the timber when it is harvested. During the last five years the forestry industry has provided a great deal of employment during the months from autumn "to spring. The State undertakings absorbed approximately 1500 labourers this season. Private forostry companies have provided seasonal work for about 950 men this season. The conservator of forests, for the Rotorua and Kaingaroa districts is Mr. W. T. Morrison, and ho and his staff are now completing a season's programme that would excite remark in forestry circles in any part of the world. Away in wilderness isolation they have organised and carried through a work that dwarfs many a work which in tho public eye looms largo indeed. They are a credit to tho Forest Service and to their country. Several comparable achievements have been done in a season in private afforestation, and one name that stands out prominently is that of Mr. O. Jones, who nas left his mark in many square miles of forest in the Putaruru and Atiamuri back country.