TREES PLANTED AT MYROSS BUSH

Southland Times, Issue 23840, 10 June 1939, Page 18

TREES PLANTED AT MYROSS BUSH

Twenty-three years ago Mr J. C. Calvert, of Myross Bush, came to the conclusion that an area of two acres of wet swampy land was an eyesore on the farm. With the object of doing away with this he decided to drain the land and plant it in trees to serve as shelter for stock and eventually to provide fencing material. As a means of keeping down expense he began by collecting seeds of macrocarpa and gum trees, and supplemented these by purchasing other varieties from nurserymen. As he was a novice in the art of raising young trees from seeds he made inquiries, and received information which gave most successful results. A thoroughly clean piece of ground was selected in the vegetable garden which was carefully cultivated. In the spring after tramping the seed bed very firmly a piece of Ain by 2in was pressed into the ground to a depth of half an inch, the seeds were sown thickly in the firmly-made drill and covered with earth which was again pressed down solidly with the piece of timber. The first seedlings appeared in 28 days and germination continued for a period of three weeks. In the 'following March the plants were ready for wrenching and this was done with a sharp spade and particular care was taken to cut the main tap root several inches below the surface. The soil was then pressed down firmly and in about six weeks the plants had thrown out some new rootlets and were transplanted at a distance of eight inches apart. During the next year care was taken to keep the plot free from weeds, and in March a second wrenching of the roots was made. The first young trees were planted out permanently at two years old in 1918 and in four years sufficient trees had been raised to plant the whole area at a distance of three feet apart, which gave a total of 4840 trees on each acre. The plantation is now 20 years old and of recent years the thinnings have supplanted a considerable number of macrocarpa and gum posts, some of which have been treated with creosote. A good supply of stakes for netting fences has also been available and four paddocks are well supplied with shelter for stock. ORNAMENTAL TREES A recent inspection of Mr Calvert’s plantation revealed that while he has given due consideration to the commercial aspect, he has made a hobby of studying forestry and has included many species of ornamental and less well-known varieties. Twenty varieties of gums were originally planted, some of which failed to survive. The most satisfactory for farm timber have been eucalyptus viminalis, and macarthuri. Macrocarpas occupy about one quarter of the area. Pinus radiatas are also well represented. Quite a number of Oregon pines have made most satisfactory growth, and further proof that these trees will grow well in Southland when given good initial shelter is to be found in the Tuturau district where a healthy lot of Oregon pines is to be seen. Outstand-

ing among the ornamental trees is a lone kauri, 15 years old, and about nine feet in height. Each year’s growth is most distinctly marked by circles on the bark. Others of interest are celery pine, Wellingtonians, redwoods, cupressus, lawsoniana, abies, cryptmeria, also larches and spruce, all of which are conifers. CAUSE OF PLANTING FAILURES Some farmers have had a fairly heavy death-rate in young tree plants, and Mr Calvert's experience is that this can be greatly minimized by adopting careful methods. The best results are obtained when all the holes are prepared well in advance. It is fatal to leave young seedlings exposed to drying winds and the effects of the sun, while holes are being dug. Every care should be taken to keep the rootlets quite moist and this can be done by keeping them covered with a wet sack right up to the time of inserting them into the soil. Strict attention to this point is one of the great secrets of success in obtaining a good strike of seedlings. Mr Calvert has kindly offered to make the plantation on his farm available for Young Farmers’ Club field day. This will be arranged at a later day as it is felt that Mr Calvert’s experience will provide much practical knowledge for the young men.