FARM SHELTER.

Waikato Times, Volume 121, Issue 20271, 13 August 1937, Page 10

FARM SHELTER.

DAIRYING REQUIREMENTS ADDRESS TO CONFERENCE. MOST USEFUL TREES. (No. 1.) The importance of farm shelter, with particular reference to the South Island, was discussed by Mr N. J. Dolamore, Conservator of Forests, at Invercargill, in a paper to the New Zealand Grassland Association’s conference at Dunedin. He said that the average farmer required cheaplyraised and easily-established plantations primarily to shelter his homestead buildings, stock and pastures, and to a lesser extent to provide domestic fuel and farm fencing, while in some drier districts with light soils, the prevention of erosion by wind was of some importance. Mr Dolamore discussed the suitability of twelve species of exotic trees which had been acclimatised in New Zealand. Macrocarpa, stated Mr Dolamore, had been listed as the most valuable of all farmers’ trees. Its use was restricted to some extent as regards site, however, and it made its optimum growth in a free, well-drained soil with a rainfall in excess of 20 inches per annum. It would withstand severe gales, and was a most useful tree on extremely exposed situations. It was able to withstand strong, saline winds, and throve equally well inland and would stand fairly deep shade, having been used with a fair measure of success for underplanting in native forests. As a shelter tree macrocarpa was second to none. If planted as single trees or in groups of three or four, the branches of mature trees had an enormous spread, and the most sustained rain would hardly penetrate to the ground beneath them. In shelter belts, provided the espacement was wide, the tree was comparatively long-lived, and retained its lower branches to a greater extent than any other species in common use. It had an added advantage for farm hedge purposes in that it would stand comparatively severe trimming. Grown in compact blocks at an espacement of down to six feet, macrocarpa produced a clean, straight bole with small side branches; grown on land infested with gorse or other rubbish at much wide spacing, say up to ten feet, much the same results were achieved. The timber produced from old trees split freely and was more durable in the ground than almost any other exotic species with the possible exception of some of the better eucalypts. Macrocarpa required careful planting, and it should only be used in soils which would allow the free development of a good root system. It was not worthwhile to plant it on very dry or poor land. It was rather more difficult to transplant than most pinus trees was recommended in preference to open-rooted stock. Insignis Pine. Insignis pine provided good shelter more quickly than any other species, and was extremely tolerant as regards site and formerly thrived in nearly all situations from sea level up to 2500 feet altitude in the south, and with rainfall varying from 15 to 115 inches per annum. However, as a result of recent trouble with fungoid diseases and attack by boring insects in plantations unsuitably situated, the range of sites considered desirable had been somewhat reduced. An essential condition with this and all other coniferous trees was that the land should be well drained. An extremely common cause of trouble in plantations, especially in Southland, was lack of drainage. In the South Island insignis pine should not be planted above 1500 feet altitude, and unless in particularly favourable situations, its use where the average rainfall was below 20 inches, could not be recommended. As the farmers’ future objective should be rather to produce shelter than saw log timber, an espacement of 12 feet to 16 feet was recommended. Even wider spacing might be advisable where several rows of trees were plant for a shelter belt. The resultant stand would be more windfirm and would give better low shelter. Provided that grass, bracken, or other rank growth might be kept in check, the use of seedling planting stock was recommended with this species or failing that, small trees with well-devel-oped roots were preferable. The use of trees more than two years’ old was definitely not advised. Under favourable conditions insignis pine would reach maturity in 40-45 years, and in many cases after attaining the age of 60 years, the trees were unsafe. Corsican pine, pondosa pine and lodgepole pine were suitable for drier situations and would survive on poorer soils than species already dealt with. They were not affected by frost and thrived in Central Otago at an altitude of 260 feet. Of the three, lodgepole pine grew most rapidly, produced the I heaviest foliage and had the most ati tractive appearance. For farm plantations, the espacement of these should be from 10 to 12 feet and planting stock should be three years old. Red mountain ash was a hardy frost-resistant eucalpt of erect habit and handsome appearance, which carried a heavy growth of foliage and gave excellent shelter if planted at wide espacement. It made very rapid growth, and for this reason it was one of the few trees which might be mixed with insignis pine for shelter belts. Red mountain ash timber was not durable in the ground. The germination of seed was rather poor and the trees should only be planted in fairly j good soil. As with all other eucalypts the seedlings were planted out into j permanent locations at about 10 months old. Useful Eucalypts. Cider gum was the most frost-re-sistant cucalypt of value for farm I shelter purposes. It was reputed to ; he the only one which has withstood the heaviest frosts experienced in Cen- ! tral Otago. It might be used in mixj turc with the slower growing pines I and also with larch. The wood was | not of great value save as fuel. | Blue gum, the most common species i of euealypt, could be recommended with confidence only in the south where it I had continued to grow unaffected by ! blight. On poor scrub and weed-in- | tested land, blue gum was often a i distinct asset as it regenerated freely 1 and successive crops of pole timber i for pit props, etc., could be cut at j comparatively frequent intervals. On rather poor, hard clay land where growth was slow’, it produced very durable post timber. As fuel, the wood was fairly satisfactory. The use of douglas fir, said the speaker, should be limited to comparatively sheltered sites on good soil .(Continued In next column.)

and with a rainfall of at least 20 inches per annum, but preferably much more. As it grew fairly rapidly and attained a great height if the main leader was not damaged by wind, it was unsuitable for planting in a mixed stand with corsican pine, larch, etc. Larch was a deciduous tree of erect growth and comparatively little value for shelter, but its presence enhanced the appearance of plantations and it throve well if mixed with the slower growing conifers. Heartwood of larch upwards for 35 years old was fairly durable in the ground and might.be used as posts and poles. As firewood it burnt freely, but was not of great value. Lombardy poplar was the most hardy tree of this species established in New Zealand. It was frost-resist-ant and throve in dry situations. It should preferably be raised from small cuttings placed in a nursery in September and planted out 10-11 months later. The timber had been used successfully for the production of fruit Stone pine had been little used, but it was recommended in dry districts. It. was frost resistant, had a very wide spreading habit and was suitable for shelter for stock, implements, etc. (To be concluded.).