NATURE—AND MAN

Grey River Argus, 13 August 1937, Page 2

NATURE—AND MAN

What Can One Do ? QUITE A LOT. (Edited by Leo Fanning). Most of us—at one time or another —find an excuse for standing back with a thought like this: “I know I should do something, but there are plenty of willing workers. If I don’t answer the call, what difference will it make? One won’t be missed.” What a queer world it would be if everybody had that attitude all the time! Luckily, there are always some bigsouled people who are pleased to do good service for the public without hope of reward except the feeling of gladness which comes in the work for the work’s sake-. At various times I have wondered about who was the moving spirit in the excellent tree-planting activities of the Wanganui Acclimatisation Society. So I wrote to Mr. H. J. Duigan, who —-I knew —was taking a leading part in the movement which has won warni praise from many na-ture-lovers in various districts. Here is the reply:— “Some eight years ago, Mr. Fred J Walker, of Wanganui, who was formerly Collector of Customs, retired from his position. He was always a noted horticulturist and he then gave his whole time to horticultural interests. His garden at Wanganui East probablv contains more horticultural rarities than any other private collection of New Zealand. He is a lover of Nature, a true friend of the birds. On a large vacant hillside section opposite his residence, he planted trees to produce food for the birds in the winter, and he made a splendid success of it. There is at the present time (end of July) a wonderful show of the flowering gums. Especially did he plant certain varieties to produce honey-bearing flowers for the birds in the winter period. On a visit to the plantation to-day, and long before one sees the plantation, the rich notes of tuis and bellbirds can be heard. “Now the credit for anything the Wanganui Acclimatisation Society has done must be given to Mr Walker as he it was who encouraged and assisted us in the first years with gifts of trees. The evidence of the great value the planting of these trees afforded to members of our Society was quickly perceived, and thus came into being the scheme and policy for setting aside, year by year, from oui funds money to provide trees which produce foods for our native birds during the winter and spring months. “The movement has grown and our Society has received applications from all over New Zealand for information with regard to the particular trees we are planting. We have distributed trees outside our own oistrict in an endeavour to encourage others to follow the policy similar to our own. It is difficult to say just what number of trees we have distributed, but' by now it must run into many thousands, as some of our members have given trees which they have raised, and our friend, Mr. Walker, has been most liberal also with donations. "We are now distributing about a thousand eucalyptus trees besides lucernes which have such large quantities of nectar-producing flowers during the months of July, August and September. The special varieties of eucalyptus we are now distributing are- Eucalyptus, Leucoxylon, Rosea, Campbelli, and Walkeri. The variety Rosea flowers from May to July; Campbelli, from May to August, and Walkeri, from June to September. Walkeri is a new variety raised by our friend; the flowers are of a deep, rich pink. "The other trees and shrubs the Society has distributed are:—Tree lucerne, wattles, laburnams, laurels, etc. I have noted also that, such shrubs as banksias, coprosmas, proteas, and trees such as the arbutus, uneda (strawberry tree), spindle and

rowan trees, are of great value to-our birds,” The complimentary trees given by the Society carry tags on which cultural notes are printed. INFECTIOUS ENTHUSIASM. Well, Wanganui was fortunte in having an enthusiast such' as Mr. Walker, who had the gift of being able to inspire others to follow his example. That Society which he has helped so admirably has now such a splendid reputation that it must feel an obligation to go on with its good deeds, which are having very beneficial results for native birds in many localities. Those pink and red gums are truly noble ornaments in a land scape. The common blue-gum, which has a creamy foam on its cups, is also a good bird-feeder, but I believe that its more brilliant cousins offer bigger feats of nectar. SELFISH MOTORISTS. It is comforting to have the news that the Wanganui City Council has declined to consent to the making of a motor-road around the beautiful Virginia Lake in a public reserve. Intelligent motorists should be among the strongest supporters of the safeguarding of sanctuaries where the mind and body can have some necessary ease from the noise and strain of modern life. Some years ago shrewd and persistent scheming was done in an effort to get a motor-road extended through the lower part of the Wellington Botanic Gardens, but the vandals were vanquished by a well-roused public.