TREES FOR SHADE SHELTER And TIMBER

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume 62, Issue 5, 15 May 1941, Page 315

TREES FOR SHADE SHELTER And TIMBER

By

A. M. LEE,

Fields Instructor, Kaitaia.

’T'HE. tree-planting season is '■ here again, and it is season is here again, and it is to be hoped that not a few will be improving their holdings by the judicious planting of suitable species. It must ( be borne in mind that species which will thrive in some latitudes may be quite unsuitable elsewhere. For instance, Eucalyptus viminalis and E. Macarthuri grow to large dimensions with phenomenal rapidity on the pumice soils of , the Waikato basin. These species demand a free, deep subsoil, abundant moisture, and cool winter temperatures, but are not adapted for growth on the frostless country of the north, or exposure to saline winds.

. It is generally appreciated that trees vastly improve- the beauty of the landscape, but more than that, they return the initial outlay - many times over to the grower by providing shade and shelter for stock and pastures, and by providing useful timbers. Frequently, one finds that many localities are conspicuous by the scarcity

1111 min nun of well planted and cared for trees, and this is especially noticeable after having travelled . through districts where the practical value of trees has been recognised’ by the exploitation of many splendid species. Admittedly, there are difficulties and setbacks to be encountered in the propagation of trees for farm purposes, and very often the problems have to be solved by trial and error methods. We owe much, however, to the work and writings of such men as J. H. Simmonds and H. A. Goudie, and to the guidance of our own State Forest Service, as well as to a great number of private individuals in scattered districts throughout the country, who have made a feature, of farm forestry. To these, then, we may look with con-

fidence for advice and suggestions for our tree-planting schemes. The series of accompanying illustrations will show what has been accomplished by Mr. A. J. Matthews, of Kai-

taia > a tree-loving enthusiast in the far north. His farm is situated on the Kaitaia flats, which are , particularly

susceptible to cold southerly winds,

which affect drastically the well-being

of stock and pastures, not to mention human beings. \ On a portion of the holding • overlooking the good dairying flats (Fig. 1) gorse has been chopped , and Finns radiata set out 6 ft. each way. The trees were planted in August, 1936, and have made splendid growth on this piece of land, which was infested with gorse and was considered too poor for development. Looking over the farm, a good impression is gained of the well-set-out shelter belts and little groups ,of Eucalypts and Macrocarpas. Even patches of manuka which have been left from the original native cover serve a useful purpose in providing shade and shelter. On the flat at the base of this hill there is a very fine plantation of Eucalyptus saligna and E. Botroides (Fig. 2) planted 10 years ago. Immediately behind the Eucalypts are some Pinus radiata 12 years old. Both E. Saligna and ' Botroides are very suitable for conditions in the north,

and the former is particularly resistant to insect attack. In mature trees the two species may be distinguished by the peeling of the bark in the former from the base to branches and by the greenish-white boles, while in the latter the presence of rough, thick bark which .clothes' the boles from base to branches is quite distinctive and.i characteristic of the species. The timber from these trees is first-class for posts and poles or for firewood. An interesting plantation of Eucalypts is illustrated in Fig. 3, and this is more or less an experiment on the part of the grower. They are six-year-old E. tereticomis set out in the form of a small plantation. The

timber of this species is very similar to that of one of the best of the Australian hardwoods, E. rostrata. E. tereticornis is . worth a trial' on welldrained flats in good lowland country in - the Auckland Province. In the composite group . (Fig.- 4) Cupressus Benthami are set out in the long paspalum in the foreground, which is a fairly wet situation. The low trees in the middle foreground are Crytomeria japonica, to the left and right are Pinus radiata, while Eucalypts occupy the background. Fig. 5 shows a group of P. radiata, some of which are now ready for the saw bench. Space will not permit illustrations of other belts of Eucalypts and Macro-

carpa which beautify. this farm, but the whole does give the impression of being a well-thought-out scheme for the provision of shade, shelter, and timber. Moreover, thought has been given not only to the requirements of the farmer in his own lifetime, but also to the needs of posterity. Mr. Matthews has raised most of his trees from seeda practice not beyond the ability of most farmers. In this, however, as in the purchase. of grass and clover seeds, care should. be taken that the tree seeds are of good quality and germination, and that they come from a reliable source. . The quality of seedlings should be judged rather by their root development than by their top growth. If they have been well wrenched in the nursery the seedlings should have good fibrous roots covered with root hairs and not too much top growth. Generally speaking, small sturdy seedlings prosper better than larger planting stock which has had its growth forced. For those interested in the subject of tree culture the following authorities are Simmonds, J. H., articles in the “N.Z. Journal of Agriculture,” and Eucalypts (Brett Publishing Co.) ; Goudie, H. A., article .“N.Z. Journal of Agriculture,” June, 1921; Tree-planter’s Guide, N.Z. State Forest Service; Trees and Shrubs Hardy in the British Isles—Bean, W. J.