FORESTRY IN OTAGO.

Otago Witness, Issue 1191, 26 September 1874, Page 6

FORESTRY IN OTAGO.

NURSERIES,

The planting of forests requires great care and skill in selecting localities, kind of soil, shelter, and the trees adapted to the locality. Ihe nursery is the first consideration, and it might appear wise, on the lirst view of the matter, to purchase from the market gardener. Many suppose that from the very nature of their calling they should understand this subject better than others, and there is no doubt that the ordinary gardener may, in certain cases, understand the raising of trees for market purposes tolerably well. But experience has shown that much has to be learnt by that class, and that the many failures and uncertain growth of trees purchased from them retard or discourage altogether planting on private grounds. Nothing is more common than to hear some people who were enthusiastic planters a few years ago, and who bpent large sums, remark, "I tried Calif ornian pines, oaks, &c, <fee., and they failed. Ido not think they are suitable for this climate ;" while, as a thorough proof that the climate is well adapted, they may be seen growing luxuriantly in the neighbourhood. The fact is, that the many failures have disgusted the public, and they attribute the success of others to chance.

The usual plan of raising young trees for market will show the cause of these failures. The seeds are sown in boxes, put into hot-houses or hot beds, or well sheltered sunny portions of a nursery,aud pricked out, planted in pots, and forced by heat. These young trees look well for a few years, but in what state are they to resist climatic change, or the hardship of transit 1 In their case there is unnatural growth, a too perfect adjustment of roots to stem and branches ; they are in exactly the same position as over-fed, petted children sent out to face at once the hardship of the world. If they chance to meet

suitable soil and treatment, they may after a time adapt themselves to it ; if not, certain failure is the result. In fact, the chances of acclimatisation are against them. They look well in pots and shop windows, but the purchaser finds that somehow his climate does not suit them, and that even in favoured loca'ities they actually retrograde for the first two years. Young trees of two years, grown in pots and not forced, will have a just proportion of root to stem ; and if properly nursed and the root not injured, will generally succeed. Young trees grown under changes of climate, winds, and other vicissitudes, have more than the necessary number of roots when planted out, and therefore can bear root breaking. The reason of this is plain. A certain quantity of sap is required for the health of the plant, and if the roots are broken this cannot be produced. So the tree with a superabundance can live if some are broken, while others cannot. This matter seems to have puzzled Captain Walker, the Deputy Conservator of Forests for Madras. His report is a very able one, showing matured powers of observation. The care that has to be taken with the roots of Coniferre in India was evidently a serious matter with him, and he remarks with very evident amazement that in Scotland they cut off some of the roots, tied the trees in bundles, and sent them fearlessly through all the knocking about of railway and shipping traffic, to Ireland and Canada ; while iv India, the roots and carriage of the same kind of trees were matters for serious care — in fact, reminding one of the careful handling received by the first-born baby. The matter, however, is a very simple affair to any one who has practically studied vegetable physiology. In Jndia, the climate, and most likely the care bestowed on the plants, amount to forcing ; while in Scotland hard xisage, dampness, high winds, and boggy soil, produce excessive rootgrowth. The one is thus a petted overgrown production, while the other — a son of the soil— is forced to extend his roots.

The most successful method of growing seedlings in the Colonies was that adopted by the late Curator of the Geelong Botanic Gardens, Mr. Bunce. A thorough enthusiast, he had tried all methods of raising young trees, as he had to stock the gardens—l2o acres — as well as the grounds of all the public buildings in and about the town. He was thus responsible for results — which often goes a great way in securing success. He had sheds built of ordinary weather-boards, thatched over, and covered the floor with sand six inches deep, kept in bods of convenient breadth by boards. On this he laid sods, the tougher the better ; and the more vegetable soil they contained the better, with the grass side down. This, when smoothed over, he covered with a mixture of sand (procured from the water-tables of the roads and streets) and black loam — the sand preponderating — to the depth of an inch, and sowed his seeds. He kept the beds well watered, and admitted a dim light through the roof. When the seedlings were about three inches high, he cut the sod, which came off the sand easily, about one and a-half or two inches from the plant, and transferred it to the grounds. Thus the roots of the young seedlings were not even disturbed. 1 have seen people going to great expense in carting black soil — -humus, which, no doubt, is very good for planting ; but experience has proved to me that the sand scraped from road-sides or drains is entirely superior. But in all planting-out, watering or moisture in some shape is indispensable. Shelter and shade, if procurable, should be obtained ; if not, a hardy plan f , and that only, must be tried. The plan detailed above can also be used with great success on acorns and other hard seeds, protected by shells. They should first be placed in some hotbed or other contrivance to soften the shell and induce germination, and then planted out and moistened for a time with water of 90 degrees, until they get accustomed to change. All dangers of removal are obviated by this plan.

Every forest should have its own nursery, not only for its own use, but for that of the public grounds in the neighbourhood, as well as along the lines of railways. Much good is also done by exchanges. People at a distance send seeds or ycung plants collected by themselves, and get in exchange what the nursery can spare. This encourages the love of planting. Much of the collections in the Australian and Indian Government Botanic Gardens have been procured in this manner, and a vast amount of good done in educating the public taste. Nurserymen grumble a good deal at the Government making exchanges, but an author might do the same with equal justice at the schoolmaster. How is it to be expected that the successful colonist, who was educated as a small farmer or weaver, can with the accession of wealth acquire at once cultivated taste I Obtaining a few plants to experiment on may, and frequently does, stimulate a love of planting. It, therefore, is wis > policy on the part of a Government, and would even eventually pay the nurserymen to form a society on their own behalf, to foster and cultivate such a taste. In such a great quest'on. as this, the petty claims of men holding a few acres of abortion 5 ) which they call trees — but the fallacy of such assertion is well known to their customers — ought to receive no consideration. The Government should supplement the work of forest-culture of corporation and other reserves, and growing also for the general public. A small charge over cost price would pay all the nursery expenses. At present, the public are discouraged. The young trees bought at very large prices will not grow, and when

the buyer loses £20 or £30, he thinks planting a mistake, while the whole blame rests with the system. The methods of planting-out are various. This system indicated has proved very successful. In all cases a hole dug in clay soil of a retentive character, should be dug so as not to form a pool ; a V shaped opening on the lower side, if there is any slope, should be left for the water to dram oft. Careful watering iti this Colony is also necessary. At home it is found more economical to let them take their chance, and replant for failures. But here a dry season would destroy them all. In porous soil a small concavity should be left around the plant, for the purpose of saving time in watering. Many young trees, that after planting show signs of having taken root, die off although carefully attended to Inexperienced labourers think that the young tree is safer the deeper it is put intheground, and hammer tough, wet clay round it. This leads to many failures. If allowed to dry, the clay hardens round the roots and rootlets, preventing all healthy action, and closing the spongioles. The bark on the stem differs considerably from that of the root, and is not intended for contact with the soil ; when buried, it rots, leaving the inner bark and pores exposed, and induces decay. The nearer we copy nature, the more correct is the work of Forestry. If plants are not transplanted with a ball, the roots should be moistened in mixed water and clay, and never rammed hard. The bark of the stem should never touch the soil, and shelter and shade should, if possible, be procured for young trees. But many failures will be the result of interfering with the tap-root of any of the Coniferee, or other trees grown in nurseries.

CTo he continued.)