The Pahiatua Herald PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17,1936 PLANT A THEE.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13285, 17 June 1936, Page 4

The Pahiatua Herald PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17,1936 PLANT A THEE.

A century ago New Zealand possessed. vast expanses of beautiful bush but the coming of the white man, which heralded the dawn of ticix spelled doom to this heritage gratuitously provided by nature—the ring of the busliman’s axe, the fury of fire and flood and the ravages of the forest despoiler—they have all taken toll on. our forests. Although the war continues to be waged in the name of progress and commerce, and nature is still called oil to pay out from her rapidly diminishing coffers, the deposits made by mail in return are not commensurate with his withdrawals. According to usual practice Juno, July and August are generally considered to be the months for tree planting, and it is the duty of every New Zealand landowner to plant trees during this period. Tree planting reaps its own reward wherever it is carried cut. On the farm a plantation affords adequate shelter for stock, promotes the growth of glass and in light sandy country counteracts the action of wind and water whicli play havoc on rootless soil. It also provides the farmer with posts ancl firewood. A farmer need not stop at planting shelter! l>elts, for there are immense possibilities in timber plantations, f or the first year or so trees require careful attention, but after • five cr six years they shoot away with prodigious speed. The necessity of safeguarding; plantations with stockproof fences must not be overlooked for the hitter can quickly perpetrate much damage to young trees Tin' presence of plantations or she lter belts on a farm not only provide the owner with shelter but it enhances its value cons icier a bly, and every eltort should be made to inculcate interest in tree planting among the younger generation in order to safeguard the future of our trees and ensure continuity of effective planting measures.