Patea & Waverley Press. FRIDAY, April 4, 1919. SANDHILLS AND TREES

Patea Mail, Volume XLIII, 4 April 1919, Page 2

Patea & Waverley Press. FRIDAY, April 4, 1919. SANDHILLS AND TREES

At the recent public meeting to consider the question of a War Memorial for the town, more than one speaker while expressing approval of the idea of a memorial avenue to the beach, ventured the opinion that the project as an avenue would he impracticable, as trees would not grow in the sand. How wide of the mark such an opinion is, is shown by a couple of articles in the latest number of the New Zealand Journal of Agriculture which are well worthy of perusal by all interested in the planting of sand areas. One of the articles is entitled “ Reclamation of Sand Dunes ” and is from the pen of Mr E. Phillips Turner, officer in charge of the N.Z. Forestry Branch of the Lands Department, whilst the other is by E. D. Van Dissel, Inspector of State Forests, Holland, and deals with tree planting in the sand dunes of that country. These articles furnish a complete answer in the affirmative to the question “ Would trees grow on the sandhills through which the proposed Anzac Avenue would pass, prouided the right kind of trees were planted and the young trees properly sheltered? ” Anyone who has had any experience of the North Sea at all in autumn, winter and spring, knows that for keenness the North oast winds coming down from the Arctic regions arc far colder and stronger than any winds experienced in this part of the world. Obviously therefore, if it is possible to grow trees successfully on the sand dunes of Holland, they can be grown in Patea, if, as we mentioned, the right trees are planted and proper shelter provided. Mr Van Dissel in his report, says: “The dunes of Holland extend in a long chain along the North Sea. They occupy an area of about 92,625 acres, that is to say nearly 1.15 per cent of the surface of the count ry. They are almost entirely composed of sand with a mixture of broken shells and other material. The nature of the sand exercises a great influence on its instability and on the vegetation. It is where the dunes are driest and where their soil the poorest that the sand is most mobile. The wind raises it in places and disperses it as dust, this causes holes. At the same time the vegetation in these places is not vigorous enough to oppose the action of the wind with an effective resistance. It goes without saying that it is just there that it is important to fix the dunes by planting marram or by making an effort to plant trees on them. With regard to the tree planting, Mr Van Dissel goes on to say that the experiments in afforestation of the dunes dates back to 1865, and as a result it has been found that three kinds of pines can give excellent results, viz Pinus Austriaca, Finns Montana and Finns Silvestris. Finns Bilvestris succeeded well in sheltered places, but the well known tree Finns Maritima was unfitted for this use. The young tree plants are put in at a distance of from 23 to

31 inches apart, but in places most exposed to the wind they are planted closer. The afforestation of the dunes in Holland, Mr Yan Dissel goes on to say, is met with considerable difficulties. Not only do winds, but’also animals and numerous parasites hinder vegetation. In spite of all these drawbacks however, the results, particularly in recent years have been more than encouraging, “ Without doubt,” Mr Van Dissel claims that although afforestation means a much enhanced initial expenditure, against this the expense of maintenance is reduced to a minimum, and one can even see some pecuniary profits in the future without mentioning the advantage that will be obtained from the aesthetic and climatic point of view. “ I even estimate,” he concludes “ that not reckoning the eventual profits, in the long run the fixation of sand dunes by means of afforestation will turn out more advantageous than the costly use of marram grass etc., which involves each year very great expense in maintenance.” We have quoted the above remarks from the N.Z. Journal of Agriculture to show that if it is possible to grow trees on the sandhills of Holland that are swept for eight months out of the twelve by the icy blasts from the North Sea, it is not impossible to grow trees (if they are properly planted and properly cared for) on the sandhills of Patea, where in comparison with the North Sea, it is perpetual summer. For proof of this statement it is however quite unnecessary to go so far afield as Holland, to ascertain whether trees will grow in sand. In more than one direction, less than three minutes walk from the local post office are to be seen some magnificent clumps of shelter trees growing in pure sand. The argument therefore that it would not be possible to create an avenue of trees from the Domain towards the sea, is one that will not hold water for a moment. AVhere there is a sufficiency of sand they will grow and grow well, provided they are carefully planted with shelter and looked after until they obtain a firm hold.