STATE FORESTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26177, 13 June 1946, Page 4

STATE FORESTS

NEW SCHEMES PENDING PREPARATION AT BERWICK Development work for one of the new afforestation schemes which are to be opened up in Otago is now being performed at Berwick by the Public Works Department. It is not expected that planting will begin for another year at least, but early preparation is being undertaken to have the area ready for planting when the young trees are available from the nursery of the State Forest Service at Milton. Using a dragline, a construction grader, and two bulldozers, the Public Works gangs have a programme ahead of them of 70 chains of creek straightening and drainage, as well as nine miles of roading, half of which’ will involve the construction of new roads. There is no urgency about this work, which may take up to three or four years.

There has been a considerable expansion of State Forest activity in Otago durinf the past year or two. The nursery at Milton was established last year, and several areas, all capable of expansion; have been selected for planting out with fairly quick growing trees, including pinus radiata, whose growth js very fast, Corsican pine, larch, and Cupressus macrocarpa The young trees are taken from the nursery at two years, by which time they are considered - sufficiently developed for transplanting. In addition to the Berwick scheme, other afforestation areas are piannea on the coastal ridge both north and south of Taieri Mouth, and on the hills behind Herbert in North Otago.