TALK TO GARDEN CIRCLE

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 176, 20 April 1940, Page 6

TALK TO GARDEN CIRCLE

Trees Highly Prized In California Mrs. William Smith, Lower Hutt, noticed, while visiting California recently, that rag, soaked with napth aline, was tied round redwoods in the low-lying country round Santa Cruz. It was explained, said Mrs. Smith, in a talk to the garden circle of the Hutt Valley Horticultural Society, that it was a deterrent to the deer, as they disliked the smell. Mrs. Smith went for a caravan tour arranged by the Farmers' Bureau, which was similar to the Xew Zealand Farmcis’ Guion, and professors from the Berkeley University. California, gave lectures eu route on aspects of forestry. There were 35 cars, the party consisting of about 100 persons. Every possible precaution was taken, particularly during the dry season, which lasted from May to September, and sometimes a month or two longer, to prevent tires. Look-out towers, similar to lighthouses, were posted on vantage points approximately 50()ft above sea level, and the first sign of a fire was immediately reported to headquarters, the temperature, humidity, wind and other details also being given. The rangers, all young men. wore a uniform similar to that of the Xew Zealand Air Force, and were a fine type. The redwoods were protected by the State, and, if unmolested, were very hardy growers.

A stop was made where a ring of 15 huge redwoods had grown round where the mother tree had been, but in place of the old tree was a crater 100 feet in depth. There, in the centre, the party stood, and listened to a lecture on geology. The spot was like a majestic outdoor cathedral. A visit to an experimental farm was a very interesting feature, and here a talk was given on the preservation of trees.

Paradise Bark, which was also visited, was owned by the Masonic fraternity. While here, one of the lecturers said that the preservation of trees "is like charity and good breeding, which should begin at home.” Age-old redwoods grew in the park, which comprised 127,000 acres. The shrubs here were beautiful, the wild azaleas reaching a height of 12 feet. At Big Basin Bark Mrs. Smith witnessed a delightful little ceremony. The keeper called through a large megaphone, and the deer came scampering from every direction. In the summer the rangers arrange concert programmes, and it was a delightful experience to sit among the trees on a moonlight night and listen to a programme of good music. Trees were greatly valued in California, the streets of the cities and rhe small towns being lined with them. Hawthorns were highly prizes, and also maples. Mrs. Smith was warmly thanked for her interesting talk. Mr. William Smith, the president, was in the chair.