THE MANGAMAHOE PLANTATION.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 February 1933, Page 2

THE MANGAMAHOE PLANTATION.

: ■:.... ■. / (To the. Editor.) Sir,—There is no doubt that in time to come the planting' of' the Mangamahoe Valley will prove of incalculable benefit to the community. It can, even now, as stated in your columns, be seen that there are great potentialities in tree planting and the future ratepayers of New Plymouth will surely recognise the forethought shown to-day in thus providing a. splendid asset for the people. What I would like to remark upon is that not much attention has been given to the planting of certain native trees (at least not much publicity is given.to such unless it may be in connection with an odd tree now and again.) It may be of interest to point out the value of the miro as a tree which invites much investigation, and which to my idea should be planted in groves, for besides being useful for timber and a favourite for bush birds (particularly the native pigeon) it seems to have a medicinal quality that perhaps is not generally known. While I was working in a sawmill ’ a good many years ago miro trees were' cut into boards and also tram rails, find in handling the waste slabs one’s hands would get covered with a gummy substance which took some effort to get off the hands. A very strong turpentine smell came from the. wood.. When the substance was applied to other woods they became stained somewhat, and it seemed to me that there ..was a possibility of varnish. Some years after that while working in the bush at logging for a sawmill we, in handling the miro, met the same effect, and jack handles were stuck to one’s fingers with the oozed gum. Those handling' the muddy wire ropes of the hauler, or the staff in clearing.log tracks suffered aggravating cracks in the region of the thumb and bends, of the fingers (at times men would lose a day or two of work through it) which, were of a painful nature. By accident gum from the miro got into these cracks, and the relief from the. burning sensation became so marked that it became a common thing for a miro tree left standing, as unsuitable for cutting to be scored with a V cut. A tobacco tin lid was made as a chute, and the tin as reservoir, and those whose hands were almost unfit to work with would smear the caught gum on the cracks, with instant’ relief. After a couple of days the hard calloused edges of the cracked could be peeled off, with pink flesh underneath and the crack absent. As I mention, I think the value of the miro for this reason would bear investigation, though its value as a timber tree and a bird feeder is quite sufficient, I should say, to cause it to be extensively planted. There is another native tree of much value which should not be neglected as providing bird food, and which gives an enormous yield of small red berries—the karamu. Many a settler in the early days ■ has blessed the tree for the cow fodder it gives, and cattle are extremely fond of it. While not growing to timber size it provides a splendid greenery, and is somewhat like the imported laurel as it will bear much trimming, sending fresh growth very quickly,. and should make a fine hedge shelter tree. The settler .with his creeks and waste parts planted, with karamu will find he has a cow fodder which may prove of value in the event of crop failure. No doubt there are many other native trees which have a particular value, and which more experienced people than myself can draw attention to, but as I have particularly

noted the value of the two I mention I thought I would beg space to bring them to the notice of readers. —I am, etc., J.B.S.