W.E.A. FIELD DAY.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 17634, 11 December 1922, Page 10

W.E.A. FIELD DAY.

VISIT TO BICCARTON BUSH. A party of students and friends numbering about fifty visited the Riccarton Bush on Saturday under the guidance of Mr C. E. Foweraker, of Canterbury College. Mr Foweraker explained that Riccarton Bush is a nant of a swamp forest, there being two important types of forest in Now Zealand —the tram forest and tho swamp forest. The swampy floor of the Riccarton bush has disappeared, consequently the giant Kahikateas or white pines may not be replaced. The lecturer further stated- that New Zealand whito pine forests belonged to the taxads family, and that 6uch forests hare four, tiers," (1) the taxads forming the forest roofs; (2) the broad-leafers filling in the spaces between tho taxad trunks; (3) the shrubs, filling in the lower spaces, and (4) the floor, consisting of grasses, mosses and herbage generally. It is easily seen that a forest is a plant community in which the various trees live in co-operative harmony, and destruction or any one tree or plant group seriously affects tho forest as a whole. Mr Foweraker answered a number of questions, and explained the characteristics of the many species of plants in the bush. During the adjournment for afternoon tea, Mr "W. Newman moved a vote of thanks on behsjf of all present to the lecturer for his instructive and interesting talk on tho bush. The secretary, Mr G. Manning, announced that, the next field day would be to Lake Coleridge, about the end of January, after the conclusion of the summer school term.