Six Hills Forest Partnership
Half-Year Report
13 October 2003
We are pleased to report as follows:
Forest Stand Progress
Your Radiata pine clearwood regime AH1 at Ahuriri received its first lift of pruning late last summer. This was six months before originally predicted.
Our auditor, Patrick Milne of Southern Cypresses says in his report that his plot data shows an average of 339 sph (stems per ha) have been pruned; the average pruned height is 2.98m; and the average DOS (Diameter Over Stubs) is 14.9cm. This data indicates an above average site for Canterbury.
Stem straightness for this stand is less good than it could have been, predominantly due to storm damage, particularly the SW storm in October 2000. However, the stand was particularly well stocked so the contractors have been able to select a sufficient number of good straight trees for the final crop. It is a good example of one of the reasons we plant three times as many trees as we want to end up with.
Pruning has not yet started at Leslie Hills, Hopefield or Glens of Tekoa but will do very soon, along with a second lift of AH2.
After a lot of Spring rain in recent weeks we expect your stands are poised for prolific early season growth.
Foliage Nutrient Test Results
We have tested the foliage of your Radiata stands for nutrient levels as part of routine tree health monitoring. Levels of all nutrients are satisfactory and there are none needing attention. Boron levels had increased from pre-application levels six years ago, as expected. However the Leslie Hills stand did not show much improvement so we will test again next autumn.
The trees certainly look healthy. ‘Healthy’ for pines is several years worth of long, dark green needles on straight stems. Foliage tests from time to time are recommended too in case there is a nutrient problem not evident from appearance during normal conditions, which may become a damaging problem during a drought.
If you have any queries about anything, or want more information, please don't hesitate to contact us.
Charles Etherington
WARREN FORESTRY Ltd
Manager for the SHF Partnership Committee
PS: A Newsletter covering a number of relevant and we hope, interesting forestry related topics will be sent to you soon.
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Warren Forestry Ltd. PO Box 36-358, Christchurch, New Zealand.
Tel/Fax: +64 3 377 3514/366 5669. Email: office@warrenforestry.com
