TREE CULTURE IN NEW ZEALAND.

Otago Witness, Issue 2675, 21 June 1905, Page 10

TREE CULTURE IN NEW ZEALAND.

Br Hexrt J. Matthews, Ohief Forester. (John Mackay, Government Printer. 1905 ) This profusely-illustrated work, one of the very latest products of tho Government printing press, comes out at an opportune time. The forests of New Zealand constitute one of the most valuable assets of the colony, but they are being destroyed in the most ruthless manner in all easily accesaible parts, and very little as yet is being done to arrest the increasing damage, or to repair what has already taken place. Large a?eas of magnificent forest land have been destroyed by the sawmiller, the proportion of the available marketable timber which has been utilised being really very small as compared to the amount which has been burned or allowed to rot. In view of the fact that the world's supply of timber is a rapidly diminishing quantity, and that the value of our forest lands must greatly increase in the near future, the colony has been guilty of culpable negligence in not taking steps to conserve) and economically administer this great department of public wealth. But while neglecting its already existing forest areas, the Government of the colony has done a good deal in the way of lice-planting in areas of land which are destitute of natural forest growth, and this work has for a number of years past been under tihe management of Mr Henry J Matthews, the author of the book under review. The necessity of planting in many treeless parts of the colony is very great, but, as Mr Matthews points out in his preface, the conditions are so variable between the two extremes — the semi-rropicdl in parts of the North Island and the semi-Antarctic in the interior of the South Island — that a totally different class of plants is required for different localities, and a different treatment must also be adopted. It is to supply with sound information those who are undertaking this important work that the present little manual has been prepared; and it appears to bo eminently suitable for the purpose for which it is published. The book is divided into 20 short chapters, and it gives fairly full directions as to the rearing of trees from the seed, the preparation of the ground, subsequent planting, together with the thinning and pruning required later. All the principal operations are illustrated by plates or diagrams of the actual processes and apparatus employed. By means of this part of the work anyone — even without any previous knowledge of the subject — could plant suitable trees with reasonable hope, of doing the woik successfully.

Special chapters are elevofceel to shelter plantations, street planting, hedges and hedge plants, and sea-coast planting. In the latter connection very valuable information is communicated by Dr F. Truby King anS Mr J. Burgess, both of whom are entitled to speak with authority on the subject. A short chapter is devoted to the subject of native trees and their apparent neglect in the State nurseries. It is a fact that the majority of them grow too slowly to be of economic use as timber trees, but. it is satisfactory to learn that puriri, totara, beeches (Fagus), and kowhai are being planted in favourable localities. The trees which are at present yielding nearly all the timber of the colony — the kauri and the various specks of native pines — are unfortunately very slow growers, and it is therefore all the more incumbent on the State to reserve considerable areas of already existing forests of these trees, and thus prevent their total extinction.

Special chapters are devoted to certain groups or kinds of trees^ — e.g., wattles, eucalypti, catalpa (which eeems to be a favourite of the author's), cork, oak, and coniferous trees. In the latter connection more information would have been desirable as to the relative value of different species Thus the favourite introduced trees of this class in mo3t parts of New Zealand — Cupressus macrocarpa and Pinus insignis (P. radiata) are comparatively valueless as timber trees. On the other hand, larch, against which foi a long time there was a strong prejudice in the colony as being unable to withstand the hot winds of the South Island, is proving one of the most valuable trees which can be planted in mass. We think also that the walnut and the Spanish chestnut are- trees which merit more attention than they have hitherto received.

The book is well and clearly printed, as the work of the Government Printing Office generally is, and ifc is illustrated by 64 fullpage plates excellently reproduced from photographs taken by Mrs Matthews. Valuable assistance and information have also been given by Mr T. W. Adams, of Greendale, Canterbury, a gentleman who has had great practical experience in tree planting, and by Mr A. Bathgate, of Dunedin. m The printing of technical names, which is often a stumbling block in semi-scientific publications, is on the whole very satisfactorily done, though a few mis-spellinge. occur here and there. At p. 82 the genus Agathis is referred to, but nothing is stated to show that the kauri js a member of the genus. it is also stated in Appendix I that Abies Douglasn is now known as Pseudo-tsuga taxifoha, and Podocarpus spicatus as Prumnoprtys spicatus. Wo hope and believe that the former will retain its well-known name of Abies— Pseudo-tsuga being too awful for common use ; and We are glad to know that in the new "Flora of New Zealand, by Mr Gheeseman, which will very shortly be issued, the black pin© or matai remains as Podocarpus spicatus. The greatest fault we have to find with the book is the want of an index. This should be remedied m the next edition.

The book is one which should be in the hands of every farmer and landed propriety in the country, and we would suggest that the department would be taking a wise step if it were to abandon the xrsual habit of feS? g Xp tht> W ,° rk in the Government hunting Office, and were to distribute it for sale among the booksellers throughout the colony. So many publications of the Government press have in this way had their value nullified by being difficult to procure. Hundreds of people would buy a book like this if it were obtainable, and they saw it at any book ahpp, who would not send for a copy to Wellington.

We congratulate the author and the department on having produced a useful work.

Rai«ars of Poultry should use Nimmo and Blair's Game and Poultry Meal, which is ooniposed of the best ground bones and sheila, specially prepared to meet the requirements of the fast-increasing poultry industry. It i* made up xa 241b bags, at Is 9d each. Ask JOU* storekeeper fox it.