PINES IN SAND

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 76, Issue 164, 14 July 1933, Page 4

PINES IN SAND

FLOCK HOUSE’S EXAMPLE PLANTATIONS INSPECTED. TREES HALF A MILE FROM SEA I’inus insiguA trees, planted eight years ago on Flock House property, within a mile of th© sea coast, and on barren sandy country, arc now reaching heights of over 30 feet. They are strong, healthy trees, and arc thriving as well in the sand as anywhere. Yesterday, members of the Wanganui Youths’ Afforestation Endowment Committee inspected the Flock House plantations for the purpose of seeing for themselves what could be done in the way of utilising the sand dune country of this coast to establish pine forests. {Some doubt existed in the minds of some as to whether trees •could be made to grow on tho coastal areas, where sand and salt spray form natural enenlies to growth. After yesterday’s practical example members of the committee are perfectly satisfied that the idle lands now in th© grip of sand can be turned to profit, provided the necessary initiative and enterprise is forthcoming to plant marram grass in the first instance and gradually work inward front the coast with pines. Those in the gathering which made the trip to Flock House yesterday included the Mayor of Wanganui (Mr N. G. Armstrong), Cr. J. D. Crowley (chairman of the Works Committee), Mr Alex Stuart, M.P., for Rangitikei, Mr D. McFarlane, who has charge of the Mayor’s Scheme for placing boys on farms, Mr J. Manley, secretary of tho Wanganui Y.M.C.A., Messrs W. J. Gilbcrd and Tancred Cooper (secretary) of the Wanganui Development League and Youths’ Afforestation Committee. Mr J. S. L. Deem, city engineer, Wanganui, Mr S. A. R. Mair, engineer to the Rangitikei County Council, Mr 11. 11. Richardson, clerk to the Rangitikei County Council, Cr. J. Cameron, of the Waitotara County Council, Mr Black, who has charge of reserves for the borough of Palmerston North, and Messrs D. L. and M. Blyth. Among the ladies who mado the trip were Mrs W. A. Veitch, Mrs D. Dustin, Mrs A. Stuart, Mrs D. L. Blyth, Mrs Hair (of the Y.M.C.A. Ladies’ Auxiliary) and Mrs Manley. Mr D. Dustin, chairman of the Youths’ Afforestation Committee, was in charge of the visitors. Colonel PovvleSj who is in charge of Flock House, and Mr Lees, secretary to tho Flock House Trustees, met the party, the members of whith were entertained to morning tea and then taken to the coast. The journey was made by car as far as the edge of the sand, and the remaining one mile or so was walked. «

There arc some 600 acres planted in pines, the trees being of various ages, ranging from eight years upwards. Planting was in progress at the time, boys receiving tuition at Flock House carrying out tho work from headquarters located at a camp close to tho shore. Colonel Powles indicated that, on account of lack of funds, the planting had been done in th© opposite manner to that usually followed, in that the work was moving outward instead of inward. Tho practice was to plant ma ram grass and follow behind that with the trees, care being taken to plant th© trees so as to uso the grass as a shelter. Strip by strip, the sand was being encroached upon, and the young plantations are now shooting their heads above the grass within a mile from th© actual shore. It is true that salt spray has tinged the outside trees with touches of brown but those on the leeward side are not affected, and are growing rapidly, giving the li© direct to anybody who says that pines will not grow in th© sand. Salt spray appears to be the major trouble that has to be contended with, but it was obvious that only th© very outside belts would be touched by that, and then only to a minor degree. The party was taken right through a plantation six years old, and the trees were quite strong, showing no signs of having been retarded by the spray, beyond a reddish tinge in th© needles on tho trees actually open to the shore. Once plantations were grown to fill th© gap intervening there would be no danger from that source. Sand drift had been conquered by the marram grass in the first instance and tho trees, gaining root under tho shelter thus afforded, sprang away with that rapidity whivh is a characteristic of pines planted in New Zealand. Trees that had been in barely a week were budding “I was very much surprised at what could be done in tho sand,” said Mr D. McFarlane, on his return. “There is no doubt that trees can be got to grow there, and grow well.” Air Alex Stuart donated a hut to the Wanganui Youths’ Afforestation Scheme. It was mentioned that the Rangitikei County Council was undertaking a planting s'chemo on coastal areas that had been properly vested in the council. Whatever benefit accrued from that undertaking would go to the ratepayers, and not to any private individual. It was stressed that the steadily growing plantations, affording shelter to the land from th© winds of the sea, were becoming an asset altogether apart from their value from a timber and pulp point of view. Land protected by a belt of pines, was better land than that which was exposed to the shore. 'The first practical' step to establish the boys’ •camp on Mr Blyth’s property, between the .No. 1 Lin© and the shore, out from Kaitoke, will be taken on Saturday, when the first trees for the camp's nursery will be planted. A flag will be flown and the camp site dedicated. Carpenters are expected to commence work on the site to-day. 3COO Bricks Donated 'The Amalgamated Brick and Pipe Company, Wellington, have donated 3000 Aramoho bricks to the Wanganui Youths’ Afforestation scheme. An electric power line will be erected tree of cost by the WanganuiRangitikei Electric Power Board for the afforestation camp, but the board is not permitted to give free electricity. At th© board meeting yesterday the chairman (Mr F. Purnell) said the power line could be erected at little cost to the board. It was decided to donate £.lO to the camp funds and to make th© charges for electricity at the lowest possible rate.