A BEAUTY SPOT.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXI, Issue 23, 28 January 1911, Page 11

A BEAUTY SPOT.

IN THE .BOTANICAL GARDENSThe Botanical Gardens just now are in full array of summer beauty, and are well worth a visit. In a favoured locality, and with their complement of native bush, and skilfully planned perspectives, with their many winding paths shaded by pine and fern tree, they are rightly considered a natural asset of great value — one of Wellington's most attractive features. But how many of I those who visit the gardens "For to admire and for to see"- ever give a ..jigle thought to the scientific skill, forethought, labour, and unremitting attention entailed in the making and upkeep, which have brought about such a state of perfection? Here may be found an endless variety of plant and shrub, flowering and otherwise, indigenous to New Zealand, besides countless immigrants from other parts of _ the world; rhododendrons from the Himalayas; the South African daisy (Gerbera Jamisonia)j discovered in the Transvaal, and named after the author of the famous Jamieson raid ; a Japanese lotus, a curious grey-green plant, -with a magenta flower, not unlike the native kowhai; the coral Iree of Brazil, and the Queensland Doryanthus Palmeriia, a handsome plant just coming into bloom, and which, so Mr. Glen, master-mind at the gardens, told a Post reporter, has blossomed but three times in ten years — and many others with curious life histories of* great interest from the point of -view of the naturalist — if from no other. In answer to a question by the reporter, Mr. Glen stated that in order to secure a succession of flowers throughout the year two plantings-out are necessary. " The first takes place in May, when spring flowers of all kinds — bulbs, polyanthus, and primulas are bedded out. At the end of October the beds are again prepared for summer growths. Preparations for the CGming spring are well forward, it was stated, and a visit to the hothouses revealed regjpients of boxes, in which were the "beginnings" of plants in various stages ot growth — from the newly-planted seed to the seedling — carnations, cineraria, coreopsis, wallflowers, primulas — spring favourites every one. From the seed frames the young plants graduate to the various nurseries for the "hardening-up" process, before being again transplanted. Not the least interesting section of this department was that dealing with native plant life — a feature that in time to come will enhance the value of the gardens, both from a utilitarian and a scenic standpoint. There were rows upon rows of vigorous young pohutukawa, locally called the Christmas tree, totara (a valuable timber tree), sturdy young eucalypti, and healthy specimens of the pinus larico. Difficulties are sometimes met with. For instance, of late, Mr. Shellback Slug has developed a fondness for taupata (a favourite hedgeshrub with Wellington residents), a promising young bed of which has been almost entirely ruined by him. For some time past, in a sheltered corner, Mr. Glen has been collecting the nucleus 'of a fernery, which he hopes, in the near future, to throw open to the public. A large variety of species has been collected, including the beautiful stags-head fern of the Auckland province and the delicate Prince of Wales Feather. A building of lattice-work has been erected, and the work of .transplanting- is proceeding apace. ' ~