THE TREES TO PLANT INLAND.

Otago Witness, Issue 3005, 18 October 1911, Page 14

THE TREES TO PLANT INLAND.

In planting any timber for milling purI poses the spaces intervening between each tree and between each row should be cut I down to 3ft or 4ft. If planted thickly in this way they do not branch out much —in fact, when close together any branches which form are crowded out and drop off, and they shelter each other. But when planted in this way they require subsequent thinning, and it was found at Home that the first thinning three years after they were planted, which cleared round the permanent treeß, did I not pay expenses. The second thinning six years after planting left a margin over expenses, and every subsequent thining paid ibetter than the last, till the permanent trees alone remained. When

planting, if provision is made or practicable road lines to get the tirriber out, much hand labour would be saved ; and on tussock country the young trees ■will dp better if the tusso'cks are allowed to remain than they would if the ground was cleared of all vegetation and. ploughed. They shelter the young trees, and if kept back, for two years 60 that they cannot switch the young trees when blown about with the wind, their shelter would be appreciated, and manifest itself clearly. It is not desirable, either, in the Central district to kill all the vegetation under the young trees. They do better if the sod 13 replaced, so that the hot weather cannot eoorch the roots. Of the trees which would do well in the .Central district the larch is probably one of the most important. It has been freely planted on Gladbrook, and may be seen in a hedgerow of single plants at Arrowtown, grown without any sheltering trees, and they usually require the shelter of close planting. In Maniototo the larch would. do well with "proper precautions, one of which is that a mulch should cover the roots to prevent them from being scorched with ■the heat. The roots are (surface-feeding, and when they get a 6et-back do not readily throw out fresh ones. Planted on ground which elopes away from the sun they ought to' do well. It yields splendid timber, and is used for the bottoms of drays employed in rtone-shifting—-an peration which soon cuts through ordinary timber. It stands in the ground well, and is used when mature for sleepers and mining props. There is no reason why the quality, here should not be quit© 'as .good as in Great Britain. The oak requires nursing with shelter trees till it gets up 6ft or 7ft, and then" does splendidly inland. Shelter trees might be larch, Austrian or Corsican ipine, or Scotch fir, and 60ft between each oak tree would be near enough. Elm will probably do inland if similarly 'treated. Silver birch' does remarkably well, and is a useful timber for turning, bootmaking pegs, pack-ing-cases, etc., and as it is light, tough, and springy it make® excellent 'furniture. The ordinary pear would do excellently well in the Central districts. One pound of seed would grow thousands of plants. If grown close together (3ft or 4ft) they would make timber, and do well 200 ft ■above sea-level, yielding a hard, durable timber excellent for furniture and many other (purposes. All over the high country about Ida Valley and farther on Pirnus Austriaca and Corsican pine (Laricio would flourish. The former has stiff, stringy leaves with prickly points, and a dark sombre appearance, and is not exceeded in hardiness (by the Scotch fir itself. It makes more rapid growth than the larch growing beside St. The latter pine —the Lauricio —is a rapid grower, which, under favourable circumstances, attains a height of 80ft to ; 100ft, grows at as high an altitude as 4000 ft to 6000 ft on Mount ' Etna, and is_ a handsome open-branched tree, which matures in 70 years or 90 years after planting. Other pines which will stand the climate are Excelsa and Strobus, which are much alike, .but come from different countries, and Thuga Borealis, Abies alba (white American spruce) will also do well, and is an ornamental as well as a very hardy tree; and the native totara will grow anywhere. Anyone planting would find that if small trees not more than 12in to 15in in height were either grown oi' purchased and pricked out into garden raws for a year to acclimatise their chances of succeeding would increase materially.