70 Years As Nurseryman Ended By Retirement

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28823, 18 February 1959, Page 12

70 Years As Nurseryman Ended By Retirement

After 70 years as a nurseryman, Mr T. D. Lennie has retired from business, and a sori will carry on the Cashel Street shop which Mr Lennie opened in 1927. One of New Zealand’s bestknown and most experienced nurserymen, Mr Lennie will continue to help amateiir gardeners through the weekly gardening notes in “The Press,” which he has Written for the last 14 years. Both as a contributor to newspapers—he began writing about gardening in 1908 in the "Southern Cross,” in Invercargill—and as gardening- expertof ■Stattan- »YA for 15 years up to 1952;-Mr Lennie has passed on to amateurs the experience he has gained in a lifetime in the horticultural trade. His colleagues have recognised his services in many (ways, not

least by electing him an honorary life member of the New Zealand Horticultural - Trades Association, an. honour given to only seven men before him. He is a former president and senior member of the association. He is one of the original life members of the New Zealand Institute of Horticulture and in 1948 was made an associate of honour of the institute. Mr Lennie's community services were recognised four years ago by the award of the Father in ButaieM ' s Hlsifether wasrataMdsman astid nurseryman in Invercargill, and Mr Lennie gained his baaic knowledge in his father’s shop, which he managed for a time until 1>25. when he came to Christchurch. At bls Hinau street home yesterday, Mr Lennie discussed the changes that have taken place in the horticultural trade. When he cucpe to Christchurch there were four businesses; now there were scores, all making a living supplying the seeds, plants and equipment heeded to maintain the city's reputation as the garden city, he said. .

"But the flowers are no better today than they were 69. yean ago." he said. “Newer varieties, careful growth and hybridisation have produced some better blooms and some completely new ones such as the frilled sweet pea, but the quality of the normal flowers has not improved much." Gardeners now had to contend with pests which were unknown in New Zealand when he began in business. Mr Lennie said. Then, there was not even thp now common white butterfly to cause bother.

One thing that Mr Lefinle can be depended on to continue in his retirement is his advocacy of composting. For a number of years he was president of the New Zealand Organic Compost Society. Keen Bowler In spite of his 88 years, Mr Lennie’s interest In sport has not waned, and he still plays bowls.

a game with which he has been associated since 1904, -He was one of the founders of the Elmwood Bowling Club in 1929, and was later president of the Christchurch Bowling Centre. In his days in -Southland, he represented the province at Rugby in 1897 and was the Southland champion rifle shot in 1898. Beford coming to Christchurch he had been a member of the Invercargill Borough and City Councils for 14 years, and had two terms as Deputy-Mayor.