NATURE—AND MAN

Grey River Argus, 20 August 1937, Page 12

NATURE—AND MAN

PROFIT IN HIGHWAY PLANTING. REMEMBER THE NATIVE BIRDS. [Edited by Leo Fanning], Several public-spirited organisations in different districts of New Zealand have gone well past the stage of mere speech in plans for planting trees along highways. Their- example should stimulate folk in other localities where the desirableness of making beautiful banks for roads in recognised, but where action is deferred because strong, inspiring leadership is lacking. Wherever the conditions are favourable the promoters of the planting should give due heed to the kinds of trees which will offer feasts of nectar or berries for native birds. Thus increasing numbers of people will have opportunities to hear the heart-warming songs of tuis and bellbirds. This provision for delightful birds is receiving energetic attention from many men and women in the United States of America. In “Bird Lore” (published by the National Association of Audubon Societies), J. Horace McFarland, chairman of the Roadside Development Committee of the American Civic Association, has a very helpful article, headed “Highway Planting for Bird Attraction.” He mentions that since 1920. his Association has paid particular attention to that form of highway planting which would best promote a restoration to the natural beauty of America. “Much attention,” he continues, has oeen given by many states to the planting along the highways, not only because such planting, properly managed, provided much less expensive maintenance conditions, but because it was reluctantly found necessary to consider ( the actual value of beauty. “Curiously enough, as America emerged into the ability to travel widely over this continent, our motoring citizens came to appreciate nighway beauty particularly, without any suspicion that it might be effectively promoted at home. Now, however, the situation is changed. States that are doing highway planting, for bank protection and the like, are also doing it because it stimulated profitable tourist travel.

“Now it seems exceedingly well worth while further to extend this movement and to see to it that the planting along the highways will be of the shrubs and trees that provide not only shelter but food for our feathered friends. The thought needs only to be introduced to be endorsed wherever it has been mentioned.”

WOMEN AGAIN ! The writer refers to some impressive features of highway planting. “I remember,” he says, “that along one section of the Lincoln Highway in a certain state the good women of one city undertook to see that forty miles of the right-of-way of that highway were planted with the suitable and beautiful American elm. I think of another location in Florida where on a main highway a supero planting of the brilliant poinsettia took one section, and the no less brilliant bignonia, there called ‘Flame Flower,' another section. In neither of these cases had there been thought of the birds, but there easily can be, and any decorative plantings already institut-

ed can to advantage be improved by the bird-plantings thus proposed.” BIRD DAYS, TOO. 1 Roger T. Peterson remarks in “Bird Lore,” that Arbor Day is recognised in nearly all of the fortyeight states; Bird Day, though not observed as widely, is celebrated by the schools in at least thirty states. Then ; comes this note, which has special inl terest for thoughtful New Zealanders: ! “Now that the country is awaken- ; ing to the destruction caused I Hoods, droughts and erosion (former- ; ly spoken of as acts of God, but now ; believed to be, in large measure, roe - results of acts of men), conservation ■ is being taught in the schools of many ; states. Conservation Week is being > instituted. In this week, Bird Day > and Arbor Day find their proper place. > “Bird Day has been celebrated in ; Wisconsin for forty years, and in . Alabama for thirty years. Although • it has spread to a majority of the i other states, it is far from being as ■ well organised in the United States as in some of the Eurooean countries. ; “Interest in birds is spreading like i wildfire. In the eastern states, MasI sachusetts has always led the rest. 1 Bird-study became a respectaolel ■ hobby there long before it did else-| > where; it became part of a recognis-j ■ ed education. In other states it did • not fare so well; for a long time bird-| ■ study laboured under a stigma of over-sentimentality. There was coo > much of an aura of ‘sweetness and light’ around it to suit a great many people. The fault was not in the hobby but in the’ approach. In the schoolroom, bad bird poetry and weak plays were resorted to; curiosity about bird-life was lost sight of. ’ ACTIVITIES OF RAILWAYS DEPARTMENT. A review in the “Railways Magazine” shows a wide range of planting' operations by the Railways Department. “In Canterbury, Otago and Southland,” it is stated, “there are Ladies’ Clubs interested in beautifying their localities and districts, whose members devote much time and care to the beautification of railway premises. The Railways Department associates itself with their work, and station garden competitions are held annually when cups are awarded to the winning stations. The railways staffs al the various stations are keenly interested in this friendly rivalry and work enthusiastically and with much skill, knowledge and judgment to make the best possible use of the areas at their disposal.” OASIS. There is an emerald glade of dream Where light haunts round a brimming well; So deep its source, no one can tell What hidden river feeds its stream. There is a time when evening bring The song of birds, divinely sweet, The prints of little fretted feet, The preen of sky-enchanted wings. Here many a man his two hands cup And, leaning in a pool of shade. Drink from the bowl his need has made. And seven times seven draw water up. But he must know a restless spell , When comes the caravan of day To call him his appointed way, Nor shall he find again that well. But ever after feel the green