THE GARDENS

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 20957, 11 September 1933, Page 18

THE GARDENS

INSPECTION BY INSTITUTE OF HORTICULTURE PRAISE FOR CURATOR'S WORK Members of the council of the Institute of Horticulture were the guests of Mr H. Kitson, chairman of the Christchurch Domains Board, on Saturday afternoon when an inspection cf the Botanic Gardens was made. The •work being undertaken was explained by the curator, Mr J. A. McPherson. Visits were made to the Cuningham and Townend houses, to the propagating houses, to the rose garden, and to the potting shed, in which boys and girls were receiving instruction in gardening. The Townend House, with its semi-tropical plants, was a blaze of colour. Mr McPherson has given much attention to the growing of orchids, and these give every promise of being a prominent feature in the future. In the greenhouses a fine collection of calceolarias is coming on. These will be transferred to the Townend House to make a later display. A feature of the propagating houses is a number of seedling eucalypts found in Australia at a level of 5000 or 6000 feet, the seeds of which were sent from Sydney after Mr McPherson supplied a chart of certain local climatic conditions. After crossing the river the party inspected a new nursery of an area of a little more than an acre which Mr McPherson has had constructed between the river and the United Tennis and Bowling Club's greens, and which, he said, contained plants obtained by exchange with towns from Auckland to Invercargill. After the inspection members were the guests of Mr Kitson at afternoon tea. Mr T. D. Lennie, chairman of the council, thanked Mr Kitson for his invitation to be present. It was lamentable, he said, how few people made use of the gardens. Great things could certainly be expected from Mr McPherson. In the next few years he would improve the gardens until they •were a credit to Christchurch. Systematic Work. Mr A. \V. Baxter said the institute appreciated Mr Kitson's invitation to see the work being done in the gardens. It was wonderful, he said, what strides had been made and the systematic way in which the work had been done in every part of the garden was very noticeable. The institute appreciated the scheme for training boys and girls, which was a thing that had been needed throughout New Zealand. By it the Dominion should raise line gardeners and would not have to send to England for them. Mr Kitson, in reply, said he looked upon the institute as a body which had realised the importance of instilling the love of flowers into the children. The future horticulturists were now at school, and they would later improve on the work of the present growers. On behalf of the Horticultural Trades Association Mr J. N. McLeod said members were always willing to co-operate with any public body which might further the interests of horticulture in the beautifying of the city. "Training: Grounds for New Zealanders." "My work in Christchurch has been most pleasant," said Mr McPherson, in thanking the members for their remarks. "That has been brought about by the happy cc-operation I have had from the chairman and members of the Domains Board. The public gardens of New Zealand must be looked on from now on as training grounds for young New Zealanders. It is our duty to give them as good a training as possible, and I thank the Institute of Horticulture for what it has done.' THE ROSE GARDENS REARRANGEMENT SUGGESTED The formation of a sunken rose garden in place of the present garden was suggested to Mr H. Kitson, chairman of the Christchurch Domains Board, on Saturday afternoon by Mr A. W. Buxton, one of the members of the Institute of Horticulture who were making an inspection of the Botanic Gardens. Mr Buxton claimed that the garden at preserh was lopsided and that a sunken garden would provide a good setting for the Cuningham House. Mr Buxton said the Cuningham House was at an angle to the rose gardens and the whole plan was lopsided. By sinking the gardens tne house would be raised on to a terrace and would present a much improved appearance. The gardens at present looked too harsh. He suggested that a pergola 16 or 18 feet wide should stretch right round the garden and that grass paths be substituted for the present gravel ones. Many persons would provide pillars for the pergolas. The background at present was ideal for such a plan and the gardens had the advantage of natural drainage. Only a few trees would need to be cut out. He offered to supply the Domains Board with a plan of the suggested garden and to assist in any pos- *■ sitol© w«iy Mr Kitson- said the board would be very pleased to accept Mr Buxton s ° Mr J/ A. McPherson, curator of the Botanic Gardens, said something would have to be done rose gardens. It was only the depression that was preventing the work from feeing carried out.