SATURDAY, OCTOBER 6, 1979
2
TREE NURSERY TO INCREASE OUTPUT
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THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT IS PLANNING TO INCREASE THE OUTPUT OF ITS TREE NURSERIES NEXT YEAR AS PART OF THE COUNTRYSIDE TREE PLANTING SCHEME.
THE TREE NURSERY AT THE DEPARTMENT'S TAI LUNG EXPERIMENTAL FARM IN SHEUNG SHUI, NEW TERRITORIES AIMS TO INCREASE ITS ANNUAL PRODUCTION RATE FROM 300 000 TREE SEEDLINGS THIS YEAR TO ABOUT 400 000 IN 1980.
THE OFFICER IN CHARGE OF THE TREE NURSERY, MR. MICHAEL HSU SAID MOST OF THE TREE SEEDLINGS RAISED ARE FOR PLANTING IN THE COUNTRYSIDE TO ENHANCE THE BEAUTY OF LANDSCAPES, PROTECT THE HILLS FROM EROSION AND PROVIDE SHADES FOR PICNICKERS IN THE COUNTRY PARKS,
YOUNG PLANTS RAISED IN THE NURSERY ARE ALSO USED FOR LANDSCAPING IN URBAN AREAS AND NEW TOWNS.
THERE ARE MORE THAN 80 SPECIES OF TREES AND SHRUBS RECORDED IN THE NURSERY, THE MOST POPULAR ONES BEING THE ACACIA, BRISBANE BOX, BAUHINIA AND CASUARINA.
THE YOUNG PLANTS ARE USUALLY GROWN FROM SEEDS COLLECTED THROUGHOUT THE YEAR BY THE DEPARTMENT'S STAFF, BUT WHERE TREES DO NOT PRODUCE SEEDS, THE CUTTING AND AIR-LAYERING PROCESSES ARE USED FOR PROPAGATION.
MR. HSU EXPLAINED THAT AIR-LAYERING METHOD APPLIES TO TREES WHOSE CUTTINGS DO NOT GROW ROOTS EASILY. THE PROCESS INVOLVES PEELING OFF THE BARK OF A SMALL SEGMENT OF A YOUNG BRANCH AND WRAPPING IT UP WITH EARTH AND POLYTHENE SHEET. THE BRANCH CAN BE CUT OFF FOR PLANTING WHEN IT DEVELOPS ROOTS,
SEEDS ARE SOWN AND NURSED IN SOIL BEDS FOR 20 TO 40 DAYS BEFORE THE SEEDLINGS ARE STRONG ENOUGH TO BE TRANSPLANTED INTO SMALL POLYTHENE BAGS FILLED WITH A MIXTURE OF SOIL, COMPOST AND FERTILISER.
+POLYTHENE BAGS ARE USED INSTEAD OF POTS, BECAUSE THEY ARE CHEAPER, EASIER TO HANDLE, AND MORE CONVENIENT FOR TRANSPORTATION, MR. HSU SAID. AFTER TRANSPLANTING, THE YOUNG SEEDLINGS REQUIRE CONSTANT CARE SUCH AS BRANCH AND ROOT PRUNING, SPACING OUT, APPLICATION OF FERTILISERS, PEST CONTROL, ALL OF WHICH REQUIRE RATHER SPECIALISED SKILL,
AFTER ANOTHER EIGHT TO TEN MONTHS, THE SEEDLINGS ARE THEN READY FOR PLANTING ON THE HILLSIDES.
STAFF OF THE NURSERY ALSO CONDUCT TRIALS TO TEST THE CHARACTERISTICS OF DIFFERENT SPECIES FOR GUIDE TO FUTURE PRODUCTION.
THE RESULT.........