LESS WORK IN GARDENS

Press, Volume C, Issue 29570, 20 July 1961, Page 5

LESS WORK IN GARDENS

Result Of TV In Britain Television had resulted in less gardening in Britain, Dr. J. T. Ward, senior lecturer in agricultural economics at Canterbury Agricultural College, said during a symposium on the problems of urban sprawl held this week by the Christchurch section of the New Zealand Institute of Agricultural Science. Referring to the argument that some of the food production lost through urban development would be replaced by the householders industriously digging in their back gardens, Dr. Ward said that a few years ago he and a colleague had produced a booklet called “The Garden Controversy,” in which they attempted an objective review of relevant data and earlier argument in the hope of finally resolving the controversy. “The hope was rather naive,” said Dr. Ward. “Publication of the report led to an even bigger and more acrimonious controversy than before.

“This form of food replacement is likely to be greater in New Zealand than in England because of the better climate and larger gardens here, coupled with the five-day week and the ‘do-it-yourself’ philosophy. “Judgment should be reserved, however, until the impact of television on gardening has been felt. Throughout Britain there has been a highly significant negative correlation between the cultivation of gardens and allotments and the erection of television aerials.” Dr. Ward said that when he had gone to Wye to live he had had to wait 18 months to obtain an allotment for gardening. When he left three-quarters of the allotments had been abandoned.