TREE-PLANTING PLAN

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 137, 5 March 1940, Page 9

TREE-PLANTING PLAN

Success Of Wellington School Nurseries CENTENNIAL MEMORIAL “The raising of native trees and shrubs in the school nursery plots from seeds, cuttings mid transplants, in accordance with the department’s centennial scheme for planting out in 1910, formed the main garden project for 1939-40 season, and was well taken up by teachers and children,” states a clause in the annual report of the 'Wellington Education Board's supervisor of agriculture and science instruction, .Mr. H. AV. Hesse. “Propagation was attempted from bush seedlings, cuttings and seeds. Approximately 2000 packets of seeds of native trees were gathered by school children in the Wairarapa, packed by the children, and distributed to practically all schools, including those in the Marlborough district. In addition to the practical garden work, the main nature study, from the beginning of the third term. 1939, was the continuous study of the native flora, and the agricultural work in general was based on the centenial planting scheme. There should be a good stock of trees ready for the centennial memorial planting.

"Nearly every school has its native plant nursery. Some were very successful: in other cases the work was disappointing, not through lack of effort on the part of teachers and children, but from factors outside their control. A large number of trees which were making good progress were killed by severe weather during lust winter. Snow in particular proved very destructive. After this experience more use was made of shelter and in spite of all handicaps, there should be a reasonable supply of plants to put out next planting season.

“It is estimated that approximately ■10,009 trees are under cultivation in the schools of the Wellington education district. These comprise 22 species raised from cuttings, and 31 from bush seedlings, and seeds of 28 species were sown. Transplanting from tiie bush has proved the most satisfactory method of propagation, though a surprising number have been raised from cuttings. Considering that the raising of native plants is specialized work not undertaken by all nurserymen, that nursery work in general requires a fairly long training, that most teachers are inexperienced in such work, that the school garden usually has a totally inadequate water supply, and that the school garden generally receives little, if any. attention during the midsummer holiday period, it is really remarkable that results are as good as they are. “I would suggest that the propagation of native plants be continued in future years, not as the main school garden project, but. as a part of the garden scheme of work, to raise native trees for local planting requirements. The two years’ experience is beginning Io produce results, and should not be dropped after the centennial planting.”