GROUSE FOR NORTH CANTERBURY.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18441, 23 July 1925, Page 8

GROUSE FOR NORTH CANTERBURY.

♦ . MR EDGAR STEAD'S AIM. (JROII OUX OWJf COEBESPONDENT.) LONDON, June 19. Mr and Mrs Edgar Stead (Christchurch) arc back in London after, a motor tour all over the South, of England. Mr Stead's chief pre-oceupation has been the inspection of some pf the most beautiful gardens of England, and he is taking back with him some hundreds of seedlings of Chinese rhododendrons which friends have been good enough to present to him. Explorers in China have been sending seeds to this country, but nono of tho plants reared from these seeds have yot flowered. Among the collection are two plants of the rhododendron giganteum, only one specimen of which has been seen by an Englishman in China. It was 80ft' in height. Seeds were taken from this plant, and have been grown in England. Mr Stead will bo taking his plants out to Christchureh with him.

Another mission which he undortook was to procure fifteen or twenty brace of black grouse. He was able to make arrangements in America, for sharptailed grouse and ruffed grouse, and these will be sent out to New Zealand next October. In Great Britain ho has not boen eo successful. Black game, aa a matter of fact, are i&ther scarce, even in Scotland. The editor of "The Field," however, has lent his assistance, and is publishing a notice telling of the requirements of the North Canterbury Acclimatisation Society.

Mr Stead hoped to be able to take the grouse out with llinj, but it will not be possible to ship them until September, and ho does not desire to regain here so loag. The game is for the barren land on the eastern slopes of tho Southern Alps. Mr and Mrs Stead will be leaving by the Euahine on July 31st.