PLANT MUSEUM

Evening Post, Volume CXXIV, Issue 87, 9 October 1937, Page 8

PLANT MUSEUM

OTARI—THE COCKAYNE PLAN

(To the Editor.)

Sir,— Comparatively few people in New Zealand know where the Otari Plant Museum is or for what purpose it was established. Situated at Wadestown in what was once known as Wilton's Bush, it was set aside in the year 1927 as a reserve or home for the native plants of the New Zealand botanical region, i.e., of New Zealand proper and the outlying islands —Kermadecs, Chathams, and the subAntarctic Islands. At the time of its establishment no other such institution existed in any part of the world. The word "museum" usually conjures up a vision of glass cases, stuffed animals, and dried plants, but this museum is for living plants, growing as they do in their natural habitats, but still with an eye to beauty, as well as in a way that may be of use to the student and the gardener. "A scheme for the development and arrangement of the Otari Open-air Native Plant Museum" was first formulated by Mr. J. G. MacKenzie and Dr. L. Cockayne in 1927, and later in 1932 was elaborated by Dr. Cockayne and printed in booklet form by the Wellington City Council, under whose jurisdiction the museum comes. In this booklet is set out a very complete plan for the arrangement and development of the work, a description of the methods of management, the work accomplished and in hand, as well as that which is to be done for many years to come. Such a gigantic undertaking as is envisaged cannot be accomplished in a year or two, or without funds. The City Council supplies what funds it can, and is responsible for the salaries of the officer in charge and any other men that may from time to time be employed there. Dr. Cockayne gave very largely,of his time in supervising the arrange-'-ment, planting, and labelling of specimens, and co-opted the services of-Mr. B. C. Aston and myself in various branches of the work. The collection and forwarding of plants is one of the biggest tasks, and has been done by many botanists in different parts of the country. The New Zealand Native Plants Protection Society has given great assistance in the work of raising plants from seed and cuttings. Although handicapped by want of finance much has been accomplished and the museum is already serving some of the purposes for which it was established. In the alpine garden there are several hundred species from the mountains, which otherwise would never be seen at this altitude. In bloom at the moment are some beautiful alpine buttercups and everlastings, an exquisite heath, Dracophyllum strictum with pink blossoms, while olearia and senecia are in bud "and from now till Christmas there will be a succession of bloom among the bluebells, heaths, violets, and veronicas. Then there are special collections of the coniferae, olearia, senecio, and hebe, besides many other genera, species, and hybrids. Pieces of forest typical of various parts of New Zealand are being created, and in course of making is a model garden of native plants. Foreign plants are rigorously excluded. . In course of time the Otari Plant Museum should provide a living textbook oh the botany of , New Zealand. It will be a place of great interest and beauty for all Nature lovers, a source of pride to all patriotic New Zealanders, as well as one of pleasure and information to tourists and students from overseas; and, last but not least, a fitting and everlasting monument to a great man—its creator. Dr. Leonard Cockayne.—l am, etc., . MARGARET M. MARTIN. [We are indebted to Mrs. Martin for the above communication, which answers some of the questions raised by "J.M., Lower Hutt" in Thursday's issue.—Ed.]