FARM FORESTRY.

Waikato Times, Volume 121, Issue 20230, 26 June 1937, Page 26 (Supplement)

FARM FORESTRY.

IMPORTANCE OF SHELTER. I I At this time of the year the farmer | can afford the time to do odd jobs j around the farm and he cannot better - occupy himself than by planting shelter around his property. It is fortunate for the farming community that the tree-planting season coincides ■with the more or less slack period on the farm, for adequate shelter represents one of the main essentials in the successful rearing of stock. In a recent article, Mr T. E. Rodda, manager of the Ruakura Farm of Instruction, stresses the value of shelter, ; shade and timber plantations on the farm, indicating the absolute necessity of shelter for the protection of stock, pastures, and crops. Perhaps the most important point in this connection, Mr Rodda points out, is the protection of i the surface of the ground from the effects of harsh, drying winds. This is particularly noticeable pn western and southern slopes in early spring for pastures are to a large extent dependent on the moisture held in the surface layers of the soil, and well sheltered fields do not lose as much moisture by evaporation as ones exposed to the full force of the wind. Shelter is also very necessary for live-stock during cold and wet weather and less food is required by stock to main- , tain their body temperature when sheltered than when exposed to cold winds, continues Mr Rodda. Shelter is also required for ewes lambing where the spring weather is apt to be cold. Necessity of Shade in Summer. Shade for stock is very desirable ] during the hot summer weather. Dairy cows especially benefit from the shade, and milk better where shade is provided. Sheep and lambs revel in shade, and lambs being raised for export come to maturity much quicker. Shade is also essential for successful pigraising, a phase of pig-farming that many farmers do not appear to have realised when laying out their yard 3, states Mr Rodda.

Good fencing posts, battens, and rails are becoming, in most places very expensive. Waste parts of the farm can be very profitably planted in the quickly gPbwing timber trees that will yield quite good returns. Plantations and hedges add immensely to the appearance of the farm and the countryside. Indeed the value and beauty of the farm can be increased by an inestimable amount by well-or-ganised and judicious shelter-plant-ing. No hard and fast rule can be laid down in respect to the variety of trees to plant for shelter. This is purely a local matter and must be governed by information gained through observing the varieties that do well in any particular district. Consideration must also be given at the outset to the result required—whether shelter only, or both shelter and timber. The practice of planting trees in single lines, with few exceptions, is ineffective, unless the farmer is prepared to maintain them by systematic topping and trimming of the sides.

Topping and Trimming. Unless topped and trimmed many single rows of trees such as pinus radiata, cupressus macrocarpa become bare about their trunks and heavily side-branched above. Shelter such as this cannot stop the ground wind, but causes draughts, and stock are better in the open than near such belts. Excellent trees for single-row planting, provided they are protected from stock are cupressus Lawsoniana, cupressus Benthamii, Hakia saligna, and pinus radiata. These trees are all the better if they are topped when they reach a height of 12 feet and cut back every year or every second year thereafter. It is also better to shorten side branches. This topping and trimming takes time, but it is time well spent. General Notes on Shelter-Plants. The following notes give brief information about well-known shelterplants: Cupressus Lawsoniana: recommended for soils of a free nature and well-drained alluvial land. Does not flourish in heavy water-logged land or clay land that is inclined to be wet during the winter. For hedges, intended to be trimmed, plant three feet apart. For tall break-winds plant six to seven feet apart and at the same it is advisable to plant two-year-old trees. Cupressus Benthamii: A much faster growing tree than Lawsoniana. This will grow in all soils where Lawsonianas thrive, and will stand moister soil conditions. They are not quite as good as Lawsoniana for the production of a closely-trimmed hedge. For tall shelter they are best planted six to seven feet apart. Pinus radiata: One of the fastest growing trees. It will grow in most soils and situations. If desired for a tall hedge it must be trimmed annually. Hakea saligna: This does well in heavy clay soils, particularly the gum lands that lie wet in winter. It is recommended for such places as the clay lands round Auckland, North Auckland and Te Kauwhata, while it also does well on the Waihi Plains, but it apparently does not do really well on limestone country. Plant the trees three feet apart and remember they require rough trimming once a year to keep them in order. | Clay Country Planting. Acacia vcrticillata will do well in | clay country and especially that over-

' lying limestone. Plant one foot six j Inches apart in late August or Sepj tember, so as to escape any frost for | the first year. Keep them well trim- | med after the first season’s growth. [ This hedge will attain a height of four feet six inches in two years and will make a good cattle hedge, but is not recommended for sheep farms owing to the spines or prickles becoming imbedded in the sheep’s wool. Barberry (seedless variety) makes a good hedge on almost any soil and in most situations. It must be trimmed annually to keep it in order. Plant one foot six inches apart. African boxthorn is. recommended for planting as a stock-hedge near the coast where other hedge plants will not grow. Trim annually and be careful to burn all trimmings to minimise danger of injury to the feet of cattle. (To be continued.)