FORESTRY IN NEW ZEALAND.

Otago Witness, Issue 2436, 21 November 1900, Page 8

FORESTRY IN NEW ZEALAND.

Following is the conclusion of the paper read by Mr H. J. Matthews, superintendent of State forests, at last meeting of the Otago Institute : — THE DUSKY HILL PLANTATION., is distant some 12 miles west of Tapanui, "on the northern bank of the Pomahaka" River. It contains 845 acres, and is chiefly rolling downs and steep hillsides, interspersed with deep and sheltered valleys. The soil is variable in quality, and the surface uneven, and, although generally poor, is well adapted for growing a wide range of conifer and hardwood timber. The greater part of the reserve is bounded by the Pomahaka River, the remainder being fenced with rabbit-proof netting. In order to give ready access to the Whole enclosure for planting, and, later on, thinning tending the trees, some six miles of roughly-formed 12ft roads have been' made in the centre of fire-breaks, which are : one chain in width. These fire-breaks are ; kept" ploughed where possible, to prevent the ; likelihood of fire spreading from one allot- | ment to another, and with a view to utilising this land walnut trees are planted at 18ft i apart on either side of the road, with hazel or filbert'rmt between the walnuts. | There are also several miles of bridle tracks [ formed, for the pui'pose of packing trees to portions of the land too steep for access by vehicles. Pack-horses, with a pair of large baskets slung in pannier fashion, are employed to bring forward the trees to the planters. Over eight miles of open drains have been made in -swampy portions and where springs were keeping the adjoining land saturated. Close on 200,000 " pits " have been made for this year's planting, this work being at present in progress. There'*' are 15 men engaged in planting, each attended by a lad, who carries a supply of trees and holds each^plant upright in the " pit " while the man replaces the soil around the roots. A man and a boy usually plant from 4-00 to 600 trees per day, the average number planted daily being 7500. It would occupy too much of your time to explain the various combinations of trees that are used in planting the diffeient soils and situations on this and other reserves, but a glance at the working plans in use will make the system more readily understood. It may be as well, however, to explain that there are generally two or three kinds of trees grown together — the" principal or ultimate crop, the secondary crop, and the nurse trees. The distance from tree to tree is regulated by the variety, nature of soil, and position — whether sheltered or exposed. The main crop is planted at distances varying from 12ft to 20ft apart, on either aide of which nurse trees are planted at from 4ft to sft apart, and again betv. een every two nurses a secondary "crop is placed. As the nurse trees begin to interfere with \he secondary and ultimate crops, they are thinned out and utilised as fencing posts, mine props., etc., and later on the secondary crop is removed when it begins to crowd the ultimate crop. Plans of various compartments are exhibited. The question may well bo asked : " Why plant trcos so thickly that they require to be removed, as it is manifestly impossible for such a number to reach maturity?" The aiiMver is this : To prevent the growth of side branches at the expense of the trunk. Were trees planted at, say, 20ft apart at the outset they would be clothed to the ground with branches, and as each branch means a j knot of timber at the point of union with the trunk, the timber from such trees would be comparatively useless for all commercial purposes. It would also be a great waste of timber lo allow branches that would afterwards have lo be removed to develop, not to mention the inferiority of the timber produced through the presence of knots. Further, in wide planting every breeze blowing over a plantation acts upon each tree almost 'as powerfully as if it stood alone ; whereas when thick .planting is reported to the trees shelter one another at an early ago, and "in , a few years produce an unbroken canopy of ! foliage overhead, upon which winds have little effect, and absence of light prevents the growth of scrub and fern, thereby minimising the chances of fires spreading throughout the whole plantation. In our native forests the finest and &traightest trees will always be found whore they are growing so thickly together that the formation of limbs i& impossible .

1 THE STATE NURSERY AT WHAKAj REWAREWA, AUCKLAND. This nursery was commenced in May, 1898. It is situate at the base of a low range of fern-clad hills, two miles south of Rotorua. The area enclosed contains 84-7 acres, of which 50 acres are devoted to nursery purposes, the remainder being set apart for a plantation. The soil is of a light, sandy nature, being merely partially decomposed pumice with a slight addition of vegetable matter. Below this top soil pumice of varying degrees of coarseness may be found to a depth of 20ft or more. The unfertility of the soil in the Hot Lakes district is so frequently alluded to that remarks on this quality are usually allowed to pass uncontradicted, yet, for the purposes of tree-growing, the land exceeds all anticipations. Tiue, there are some trees that do not succeed, such as the oak and ash, which requird a deep, cool-bottomed clay with plenty of moisture at all times; but for the 'majority of trees (including all conifers) the pumice lands have so far proved eminently suitable. For instance, the growth of Californian redwood (Sequoia sempervireTls), one of the most valuable timber trees we possess, is only exceeded by that of the Australian blue gum and, the Pinus insignis. Both the latter grow here with great vigour, even when their roots come in contact with hot, supphurous ground. Many examples may be seen which attain 85ft in height and 3ft 6in in diameter at the base, although they have only been planted some 15 years. The clearing and rough . levelling of the nursery site entailed considerable labour, owing to the dense' growth of tutu and fern, and the uneven nature of the surface, the le''sult of excavations made by Maoris in search of fern root. The water supply is obtained from the Rotorua service, but on account of want of pressure a windmill pump is brought into requisition for raising the water into a concrete tank over 100 ft above the seed beds. Such a provision seems superfluous with the abundant rainfall so far experienced in this district— viz., 48.50 mm 1898, and 39.81 in in 1889, falling on 14-3 days during both years ; but dm ing the driest months — viz., December and January, the seedling plant= are showing through the ground, and want of moisture at this critical period would prove fatal in its ' results, as the ground is of such a free, open nature that the surface becomes dust-dry within a very few hours after rainfall. Frosts occurred during six months of 1898, the lowest reading of thermometer being 18 degrees, or 14- degrees of frost ; and during 1899 the freezing point was reached during live months, the register being 21 degrees. The Hot Lakes district is usually considered a mild, dry climate, but from the observations j quoted it will be found that frosts are much I more severe and the rainfall greater than in ! Tapanui district in _ Otago. Many varieties ! of plants can be grown in and around Dun- j edin that are killed outright at Rotorua, notwithstanding the existence of a boiling lake several acres in extent within 100 yards of the nursery. It is no uncommon occurrence during the winter months to see ice on water adjacent to- a 'boiling pool, and separated from it by only a few feet. The number of trees at present in this nursery is 1,4-69,760, about 800,000 of which are two-year-old and the remainder one-year-old. Included in the above are nearly 200,000 orna--mental trees and shrubs, many of which are natives of New Zealand. These are grown for planting on the- numerous reserves, domains, and Government townships throughout the North Island. Comparing the rate of tree growth in Rotorua district with that of Otago it may* be said that, generally speaking, it is fully one-half faster in the north than in the south. The well-known silky oak of Australia was fully sft high 18 months from the time the seed was sown, and some plants of the slow-growing kowhai (Sophora tetraptera) made growth of from 18in to 24-in within six months from seed sowing. The oriental plane has, in many instances, made shoots over 6ft long in one season from cutting 6. With the exception of the nurseryman in charge and his assistant, all the employees at this nursery are Natives (both men and women), the latter being especially useful in weeding and lifting and sizing young trees. Occasionally there occurs a" . well-organised strike amongst the " wahines," who demand equal rights with their " tanes " in the way of remuneration. The Maoris have proved themselves firstclass workers in the nursery, being easily taught, and, contrary to expectation, diligent in their duties. They also take considerable interest in their work, which is more than can be said of some Pak°,ha brethren who have been employed in the south. At the Whakarewarewa plantation reserve some 250,000 " pits " have been prepared for planting a like number of trees this s-eason. Each Maori planter is attended by a Nativo w iman, who holds the plants in position and trumps the soil firmly around the young trees xvith her shoeless feet. The average cost of clearing the ground of fern and scrub preparatory to planting is 10s r>er sere, and the cost of " pitting " is usually 20s per 1000, and planting about the same cost. This paper would 'be incomplete without a few figures to show what has been expended on forestry in New Zealand during the last, four years, and also the number, cost, and value of, stock in hand and improvements effected. The total number of trees o ro wn at 31st March last was 4-, 416,360, and the value of same (estimated at 25 per cent, lass tlian ordinary trade rates) amounts to £7011 8s 3d. The total value of improvements in the way of buildings and fencing, together with horses, tools, implements, and trees in stock, is £13,258 18s lOd ; and the total expenditure has been £12,004 9s sd ; showing a credit balance of £1254- 9s sd. - Tree-growing is naturally a slow process, and it should be remembered that from three to four years must elapse before stock sufficiently large to send to a plantation can be raised from seed. Commencing next year, when a full crop will be available at each of the nurseries for transference to plantations, it is expected that over 1,000,000 trees will be put out permanently, and it has lately been decided that this number shall be increased lo 1,500,000, which would be sufficient to plant an area of 750 acres per annum. The revenue derived from the sale of and royalty on timber in State foreots during the last four years amounts to £32,188, and the expenditure during that time has been £15,632. The overage income for the past foui years was £804-7, and the average expenditure £3908. It will tlm, 3 be seen that the operations of the department could be more than doubled without incurring liabilities beyond the probable income. I need scarcely point out the urgent necessity of providing timber for future industrial purposes. Wo are undoubtedly within a score of years when our native forests will be practically exhausted (even at the present rate of consumption), and the annual output is rapidly increasing. At least 50 years must elapse before we. caa hop© to convert the

trees now being planted into marketable timber, so that the- conditions of its -growth are such that one generation must necessarily provide for the other. The work of this department extends beyoncii that of tree-growing and the planting of State forests. It has also control of all reserves in the Thermal Springs districts, where considerable improvements have been effected during the- last -few years, especially" in the grounds and park attached to the • sanatorium at Rotorua. "Various works are at present being carried on'jt tße" Geyser reserve, Whakareivarewa," Kuirua and Puk'eroa reserves near Rotorug, Wai-otapu Valleyj' Taupo Domain, Tokaanu Hot Springs reserve, the domain near Naseby, and a general supervision is exercised- over improvements at Te Aroha Domain and Hanmer Springs. The total area of land reserved as State forests, plantations, and for scenic purposes at 31st March last was 2,282,804- acres, of which over 700,000 acres were added during the past year. By far the larger portions of these reserves are composed of high mountainous "country, the reservation of such being mainly for the pur-" pose of preserving the natural vegetation at the sources of rivers.. - - . . As to the probable -dttration of our native forests as a timber supply, only a 'very rough estimate can be given," owing to the .difficulty of computing the' marketable timber on scattered areas throughout the colony.' Much of the remaining forest is.so br.oken..and uneven, as well as being difficult of access," that tRS~ cost of. felling and parting the logs for con--version would be much in excess of what imported timber could be supplied for. The" total quantity of kauri timber, however, ia fairly accurately known — the amount beings estimated at 1307,990,000 ft. The "average quantity cut during- the last three years amounted to 70,000,000 ft per annum, so that without allowing for the yearly loss throughfire (which usually runs into .several millions of feet), as well as the constantly increasing demand, the supply will be exhausted within 18 years. Our average output of timber of all classes is approximately 230,000.000 ft per annum, and, with a fair knowledge of the available timber areas in the colony. T think that within 20 years our timber supplies will for all practical purposes be exhausted. From the experience of other countries, we learn that a period of from 60 to 100 years must elapse before we can hope to convert the main or ultimate crops of timber into marketable material. The thinnings and secondary crops, of course, can be utilised in probably from 15 to 25 years, but the uses to which these can be applied are comparatively limited. It is therefore apparent from the figures above quoted that we are within measurable I distance of a period in which we shall be enj tireiy dependent on other countries for our ! timber supply. It is with the beneficent pur- | pose of ultimately making provision to some extent for renewing our timber supply that the planting of new forests in various "parts of | New Zealand has been undertaken by the Department of Forestry.

. In the Wellington Supreme Court Mr Justice Edwards refused to accept a telephone message repeated 'by the recipient /as an excuse for the non-attendance of a grand' juror' who resided out of town. His Honor said the juror would either have to attend him-" self or send someone who could from his own knowledge give a satisfactory explanation of the juror's absence.