FULLY SUCCESSFUL

Timaru Herald, Volume CXL, Issue 20217, 19 September 1935, Page 13

FULLY SUCCESSFUL

WHITE PINE PLANTINGS Complete sucess has attended the planting by f the State Forest Service at Linton of an area with the New Zealand native white pine tree, the kahikatea. An area of 14 acres on which mature trees are growing was given to the service by the late Mr Hugh Akers for preservation as a typical stand of the old bush which formerly covered the land in the vicinity. The trees range in diameter from 10 to 24 inches. Then steps were taken to test the possibility of growing the white pine from seed. Seed collection was made in May, 1928, from the ground in the forest within 100 yards of where the young trees were later planted. Material containing 1401 b. of clean seed was collected by seven men in half a day. No germination tests were carried out, but judging by the sowing and resultant seedlings this was not .less than 70 per cent. In the same thonth as it was collected, the seed was sown in nursery beds, and when lifted on June 8, 1931, the average height of the young trees was 2ft. 4in. Sambur deer, on September 10 of the same year, cleared the eight-wire fence surrounding the forest and extensively damaged 630 of the you trees, leaving only 90 undamaged. A year from the date of planting the maximum height of the undamaged trees was 3ft. 9in., and of the others 3ft. 7Hih., but a remarkable recovery was later made bv the majority of the damaged trees. They are in a flourishing condition, and have grown in the open at the rate of sqfci& 18 inches a year, which is much faster than was anticipated, bush seedlings: ulfder natural conditions usually making a growth of only a few inches. The treks planted out near the original stand of kahikatea have now reached a maximum height of Sin. Though it is stated to be too early yet to draw definite conclusions, the following facts are held to have been proven by the experimental planting : 1. That kahikatea seed can, in a pure stand with certain floor conditions, and in a good seed year, be collected cheaply. 2. Germination is high. 3. Kahikatea can be readily grown from seed under good nursery conditions. 4. With good stock, and careful handling and planting on a suitable site, a strike of 100 per cent, can be obtained. 5. This species shows wonderful recovery from one attack by browsing animals, and is reasonably frost-hardy. 6. Height growing under optimum conditions and attention, during early h £ e u p to four years, is equal to that of the better class of exotic pines. 7. The species unaided cannot compete with a ground cover of pure giant fescue. Cleaning for at least three years is necessary.