CORRESPONDENCE PLANTING THE HILLS

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 106, 7 May 1931, Page 10

CORRESPONDENCE

PLANTING THE HILLS

(To the Editor.)

Sir,—A late visitor to Wellington commented on the great improvement that had taken place of late''years in the many fino roads and pretty houses, as compared with former times; but expressed the opinion we badly needed more trees.. As one who has lived here nearly forty years I nm strongly of the like, opinion. What can be more unsightly than these sorso-covered, scarred, and rugged hillsides thai- were once so lovely in their natural bush'; And yet, . Sir, ■ oven now they are capable of redemption. • Why cannot the unemployed this winter be put to clearing and planting as many as possible oC these unsightly features? It will repay the expense a-thousandfold'-in years to come, both in added beauty and real value. Pinus insignia and radiata, eucalyptus, maerocarpas, mimoras, pohutukawas, kowhais, puriris, karakas, inkau palms, cabbage trees, kohekohes, _ ribbonwoods, totaras, rewa-rewas, titokis, matipos, ngaios, tawas, are all hardy and well adapted for exposed situations. All that is needed is to keep the gorse andbroom down until they can grow and: shade the area, and what a difference even a few years' growth would make in the beauty of the suburbs and surrounding country! Fancy the hills along the Hutt road, now so bare or disfigured with unsightly hoardings, restored to their pristine beauty ot fifty years ago! Surely, Sir,, this ideal is worth striving for now and in years to come. —I am, etc.,

A. H. GIBSON.