Setting standards

Before leaf drop started in May we took photographs of Mason alongside one in each group of trees - he the standard. We propose doing the same thing every few years so we can gauge the growth. We have been amazed at the growth over this last summer. It makes me feel twitchy - I don't want our trees to grow too quickly - therein lies a possible lack of strength. A friend of ours reported a recent conversation with a furniture maker, who said that the only wood he considers worth working with is American oak. Exotic species grow too quickly and NZ woods are too soft.