WILLOW PLANTING. TO THE EDITOR.

Otago Witness, Issue 1898, 19 June 1890, Page 27

WILLOW PLANTING. TO THE EDITOR.

Sib, — I have no intention of being drawn into a controversy re willow planting on the banks of the Waipahi, but would like to make a few further remarks after seeing Mr Carlton's letter of the 7th inst., and although we differ in this, I hope we do so to agree, and agree to differ.

Angling is not only a pleasant pastime to those who can get at it, but to the delicate and studious a healthy, invigorating exercise,

So far as beautifying the river goes I am at one with him, but for the angler I consider ■ them worse than broom or furze, for they gr©~ quicker, spread out more, and so hang over * stream, as instance the few put in by the F' .. tne department at the bottom of this toy ••". lwa y break the flood water off their Hue, * ■?B™P? B ™P to tvhich were

only put in a few years ago, and &r& r

-enow nearly

half across the river and others banks far below them in varior «f OWJn X ou the He says there are hun<W Q „, Placesriver never fished, which ' ./ n 8 ° f n ? laoeß ° n t does, and it is there *> •"""! sll a ? h f fhpni Now Tmavc' Dere be wanfcs *« plant stream from neSl? -* lm ° 8t Bay * have fiaheci this he 6 PomXkt B ,°T e *° tT jt enterß wiiw Carlton seems *o lay great stress on wmo W g i as a means of food and shelter for the WOut, the keeping away of poachers, &o. The first and last of these I doubt very much for where there is bush there are always plenty of small birds, which live on insects and take the lion s share before they can get into 'the riverand as for poachers, they would, 'hide them beautifully while one kept watch, -as generally that is done when poaching goes orj. I will now take Mr Carlton to the upper, reaches of the Waipahi, where there is little of either flax or scrub for miles and miles, and treut are more numerous there than on the lower Yt ri, lt% * have Been the tussock there full of inseot life and the river m places almosb black with fliea (at certain seasons). The Kuriwao from the falls upward is treeless , the Waiwera from the Hill road for many a mile downwards the same. Yet at these plaoes good angling can be had when they are in ply.

Mr Oarlton gives the Lee and Deep streams as treeless and few trout in them, and Beems to come to the conclusion that the cause is the want of bush on their banks. Now, I beg to suggest to him to first try willow planting on them by way of experiment. — I am, &c , Waipahi June 12. A. Howison.