OUR OAK TREES.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16519, 10 May 1919, Page 10

OUR OAK TREES.

TO THE EDITOR OP'"XHE PBES3."

Sir, —Now that for the time being the question of beer or no beer has Deeni settled, and the Chief Magistrate of the city has been selected, and all the ex-, citement engendered has passed away, I think there is • a matter recently referred to in your oolumns that deserves more than the passing notice that has been given it. I refer to the condition of the oak trees in Hagley Park. Your attention having been drawn io the subject, you sent a representative some weeks ago to inspect, and he reported a very bad state of things amongst the trees in certain portions of the Park. He also interviewed the curator of the Domain, and obtained! the opinion that the sickly, appearance of the trees was due to lack of moisture. I have paid several visits to these, trees myself since, and I think some further expert opinion should be obtained as to the_ cause of their very decided Unhealthiness. _ I append below the rainfall in Christchurch for the past 17 years, which I obtained from the Christchurch Magnetic Observatory, through the courtesy of Mr H. F. Skey. .It will be ' seen that the average yearly rainfall for the whole period is 26.165, and the rainfall for both 1917 and 1918 •was over 27 inches.

According to Mr Young's theory the trees should have recovered. I Know yery little about' diseases of' trees, but I do know that the eucalyptus has suffered from a blight for many years past which entirely destroys their beauty. The walnut is now reported to be suffering from some blight. Is it possible the oaks are being attacked by. a paraster By my own observation I can Niy that some of the trees afe already dead; many are apparently dying. If. it. is absence of moisture that 13 causing the trouble, could not the fireengines be requisitioned for the purp2?e*xof 1( ? O( S m S the P arts of the Park affected? If, on the.other hand it is some infectious disease, ought not the sickly trees to be cut down and burnt? -I would! commend.this matter, Sir, to your further attention,'as.the loss of a <r g s. °u ei ; of trces would seriously affect the acknowledged beauty of our magnificent. Domain.—Yours, etc n , M.W!B. Our correspondent encloses the following figures showing the rainfall in Christchurch from 1902-18, in inches--1902. 28,780; 1903, IS 998 - 1904' 33,351; 1905. 98.440; 1906, 29.4&6- 1907 19.508; 1908 25.917; 1909 35.28219i0' 20.181; 1911, 29.583; 1912, 27.294: 1913 1914, 19.600; 1915 15 694* 1916* 2-1.261; 1917, 27,888; 1918, 27 902 '