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Show Monterey Pine Foresters in the United States are much surprised by the statement in Uie January issue of the Journal of Agriculture of New' Zealand, Just received re-ceived in this country, that Monterey pine .Is by far the most valuablo and profitable timber tree that can bo planted in Now Zealand.. This pine grows naturally In a few very restricted areas in southern California, Cal-ifornia, principally in the neighborhood neighbor-hood of Monterey Bay, with one or two Isolated areas to the south and on Santa CataJIna Island. While foresters for-esters have known that its growth Is comparatively rapid, the tree has been regarded as practically valueless value-less for Umber, though It has been planted to serve 'as a windbreak for orange groves. The reports of Its behavior in New Zealand, however, seem to make a further investigation of Its value In this country well worth while. In view of the extraordinary ranld growth which the tree hag made in their country, New Zealanders harve given it Uie common name of remarkable remark-able pine, and from the figures reported report-ed by the New Zealand department of agriculture, industry and commerce, this name seems to bo well merited. Tho claims for Monterey plno aro based on tho phenomena growth which it has made in plantations and tho many uses to which the wood seems adapted. , i In one plantation, for example, In which Uio trees varied from 26 to 29 years old, ono tree gave a yield of 1400 board feet of saw timber and the average yield of Uie plantation was approximately 100,000 board feet for each acre. White pine, the tree best adapted to forest management in the northeastern United States, will scarcely yield mere than 20,000 board feet per acre at this age. Loblolly pine, the most rapid growing pine of Uie southeast, makes not more than 16,000 board feet per acre in equal length of time. Another 27 year old plantation of Monterey plno In New Zealand yielded 75,000 board feet of saw timber and 60 cords of fire wood per acre, yet both of these plantations plan-tations were on puro sand not suitable suit-able for farming purposes. An Individual tree only 46 years J 1 old, was estimated to contain more than 6,000 board feet. Avorage white plno trees of the Baoie ago In thli country, when grown in Uie forest, seldom contain much moro than 12" board feot, so that the figures glren in the New Zealand report seem al- ff most bicredlhle. It is known, l10w. over, Uiat certain trees, outside 0j their native hahltat, make remarkable growUi, particularly in their earlier years, as has been strikingly shown In somo of Uie Australian eucalyptus in California and in Brazil. On tho basis of Uio tremendous yields of Monterey pine reported for New Zealand, the author of the ar. tide In Uie Journal of Agrlculturo be-lieves be-lieves that Monterey pine can bo grown profitably lQ that country on land worth upwards of $50 an acre, even when there Is a comparatively high cost of planUngt Uses of ths Wood In New Zealand the wood Is sagd to be used for pracUcally all building build-ing purposes except flooring. It makes excellent lumber for boxes, fruit packing pack-ing cases, and for other similar purposes. pur-poses. It is not durable in. contact wiUi Uie ground or when exposed to Uie weather unpalnted. Tho behavior of this plno In New Zealand lias been so remarkable Uiat Uio forest servico considers that a further investigation of its value in this country would be well worth whllo. |