THE MONTEREY PINE

Waikato Independent, Volume XXI, Issue 2488, 29 December 1921, Page 4

THE MONTEREY PINE

PINTJS RADIATA INSIGNIS THE GREAT TIMBER-TREE OF THE FUTURE (A. H. Cockayne). The following extracts from the Journal of Agriculture, published in January, 1914, will be read with interest: — Until quite recently the Monterey pine (pinus radiata) was looked upon as quite valueless for any other purpose save that of the rapid production of shelter. Even at the present time the statement that it is by far the most valuable and profitable timbertree that can be planted may, perhaps, not receive general acceptation. Nevertheless such a statement is absolutely correct,' and can be amply substantiated by tho results already secured in those localities where plantations have been converted into timber. The Confusion in Nomenclature

The Monterey pine was originally described by Don, in the year 1836, under the name of pinus radiata. Two years later it was again described under tho name of pinus insignis, and it is by this designation that it is generally known in New Zealand. Thus, according to the botanical rules of priority the name pinus radiata is the only correct one, and the specific designation insignis is merely a synonym. During the past few years a great deal of timber has been cut out of the pine plantations in Canterbury. Tho uses to which it has been put clearly indicate that pinus radiata is among the most valuable trees that can be planted. . . ... Pinus radiata was first employed in house-building some thirty-seven years ago, when Mr Cathcart Wason had some twenty-year-old trees converted into timber. With this material several houses and outbuildings were erocted in the vicinity of Barr Hill, in Canterbury. These are still standing, and tho timber, which has been kept painted, is still in an excellent state of preservation. - .Present Opinion on Value of Timber. The great argument against pinus radiata timber is that it is not durable. This is certainly true where the timber is in contact with the ground or is exposed to the weather in an unpaintcd condition. The buildings that have been erected, however, show that with ordinary care the timber, even from quite young trees, is extremely durable.

Apart from building-timber, the growing consumption of box-timber in itself requires the extensive planting of some tree that will satisfy the future demand. In this respect pinus radiata is especially suitable, and, were the timber useless for any other purpose, its production on a large scale would be more than justified.

The timber of pinus radiata' fulfils admirably all the requirements of boxtimber. It is light, odourless, nails well, and has a clean, attractive appearance. The experiments that have been conducted indicate that it is admirably adapted for the conveyance of dairy-products —in fact, there seems little doubt that pinus radiata must become the conveyance timber of the future. Favourite Butter-Box Timber Pinus radiata is apparently admirably suited for conversion into butterboxes and cheese-crates, provided the timber be free from knots. When grown under forestry conditions it should prove almost an ideal timber.

Thus, for instance, during the past season a. single pickle company in Christchurch used over 600,000 ft of pinus radiata timber in the packing of its products. A yield of approximately 100,000 ft of timber at thirty years of age appears to be about the average amount that is being produced in the present plantations.