OUR OWN PLANTS.

Auckland Star, Issue 154, 2 July 1934, Page 11

OUR OWN PLANTS.

USE IN AUCKLAND GARDENS. LECTURE AT MUSEUM. "Plant Gems of the North Island" was the title or an illustrated lecture given at the library of the Auckland War Memorial Museum yesterday afternoon by Miss Lucy M. Cramvell, botanist at the museum. It was the first of a new series of Sunday afternoon lectures. There was a large attendance. Sir Cecil Leys, president of the Auckland Institute and Museum, who presided, referred to the loss suffered by the recent death of the Rev. Angus Macdonald, who had been keenly interested in the work of the institute and had lectured under its auspices. He had done a great deal to popularise the Sunday lectures, and ho was greatly missed.

Miss Cramvell said that SO per cent of the plants found in New Zealand were not found outside the Dominion, and that much of the flora was_ new and puzzling. With a map of New Zealand on the scrcen, she described the flora found at Moehau, Pirongia, Te Aroha and other lygh points of the Auckland province. She then dealt with many of the lesser-known flowers of the Dominion, particularly those found in the mountainous area of the National Park, and showed 011 the screen the mountain daisies, the golden buttercups and eidelweiss, which thrive at the high altitudes, and give in their season a bright touch of colour to the mountain plateaux. After giving her audience glimpses of the Urewera Country, Miss Cramvell passed on to the Tararuas, to show views of Mitre PeaK, with its stunted beech forests, tangles of spear grass and a species of that vegetable curiosity the mountain sheep. In stressing the beauty of the flora, Miss Cramvell said that much of it might with advantage be used to beautify private gardens and parks in Auckland. The lecturer particularly referred to the grave danger caused by animals. She said that in the Tararuas the deer had eaten and destroyed much of the smaller plant life, and that on the slopes of Mount Egmont the goats were a menace. She urged that action should be taken to deal with animals, otherwise much of New Zealand's most prized flora would vanish. In tendering Miss Cramvell a vote of thanks, Sir Cecil Leys commended the suggestion that people with gardens should endeavour to use more of New Zealand's plants for beautification. It was announced that next Sunday afternoon Mr. A. W. B. Powell, conchologist at the museum, would speak on "The Uses of Shellfish, Ancient and Modern," and that on the follow ing Sunday the director of the museum (Mr. Gilbert Archey) would give a lecture on "Our Curious Native Frogs." Other lectures would follow.