Tree marking was deemed to be an important task to ensure tree selection was accurate. Trees needed to be selected because high stocking numbers were planted and about a third of them were selected for low pruning - most of which were to be high pruned and kept as final crop, while the others were culled - thinned either to waste of for some sort of production.
There was a certain science in selection, and every tree was considered. These days there is virtually no marking done. Tree breeding has contributed to an evenness in tree growth/form and most work is done on contract with quality control. Not always the best but cost effective in these times.
It was mandatory to mark.
Our crew was very experienced and were able to carry out self selection while working on a bonus rate. Sometimes I would mark some outside trees [after pruning sometimes) just to keep Geo Wilkinson happy. (or off my back)
But there were times we marked for pruning over a wide area - sometimes one dot for low pruning only and two a later high prune.
Usually Colin and I did the marking and occasionally Colin would do the lion's share with me contributing from time to time. You had to be fit because it involved a lot of walking. Pushing through gorse and blackberry - once I wore out the legs of a new pair of corduroy trousers in one day due to blackberry!
Of course we played those childish games such sharing sweets and keeping a corner of a sweet to 'luxuriously' eat it in front of the other! Or hiding the toilet paper so the other had to use the shiny label off the paint can! [Colin thought I used it - never did becuse grass or pine needles were markedly softer.]
Sometimes I would mark a few of the trees on Colin's row - just to annoy him. It would interfere with his spacing plan because after all spacing was important in the mix too. He would retaliate in a similar way but on occasion he would climb a tree and wait for me to catch up, then try to pee on me trough the branches. The smell usually gave him away before it got me, but I wore the odd splash from time to time!
Old George Mitchell would growl at us if we marked a tree that was difficult to prune and we would often purposely mark a tree covered in bush lawyer [hooked prickles] just for old George.
The marking was a good supervision tool for the post cutters and I caught them out often. Marked trees were good for them because they were big and straight, and of course they did not need to trim them.
Spacing was important but not only as a management tool for the crop. It was better to leave a rough pine tree in a gap rather than allow the gorse to grow, so we left a tree in the gaps - good form or not.
There was a certain science in selection, and every tree was considered. These days there is virtually no marking done. Tree breeding has contributed to an evenness in tree growth/form and most work is done on contract with quality control. Not always the best but cost effective in these times.
It was mandatory to mark.
Our crew was very experienced and were able to carry out self selection while working on a bonus rate. Sometimes I would mark some outside trees [after pruning sometimes) just to keep Geo Wilkinson happy. (or off my back)
But there were times we marked for pruning over a wide area - sometimes one dot for low pruning only and two a later high prune.
Usually Colin and I did the marking and occasionally Colin would do the lion's share with me contributing from time to time. You had to be fit because it involved a lot of walking. Pushing through gorse and blackberry - once I wore out the legs of a new pair of corduroy trousers in one day due to blackberry!
Of course we played those childish games such sharing sweets and keeping a corner of a sweet to 'luxuriously' eat it in front of the other! Or hiding the toilet paper so the other had to use the shiny label off the paint can! [Colin thought I used it - never did becuse grass or pine needles were markedly softer.]
Sometimes I would mark a few of the trees on Colin's row - just to annoy him. It would interfere with his spacing plan because after all spacing was important in the mix too. He would retaliate in a similar way but on occasion he would climb a tree and wait for me to catch up, then try to pee on me trough the branches. The smell usually gave him away before it got me, but I wore the odd splash from time to time!
Old George Mitchell would growl at us if we marked a tree that was difficult to prune and we would often purposely mark a tree covered in bush lawyer [hooked prickles] just for old George.
The marking was a good supervision tool for the post cutters and I caught them out often. Marked trees were good for them because they were big and straight, and of course they did not need to trim them.
Spacing was important but not only as a management tool for the crop. It was better to leave a rough pine tree in a gap rather than allow the gorse to grow, so we left a tree in the gaps - good form or not.
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