NATURE-AND MAN

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXIII, Issue 80, 16 March 1933, Page 8

NATURE-AND MAN

MEMORIAL TREES WHAT BETTER (REMINDER? (EDITED BY LEO FANNING.) If you would know that heaven is not far, Pause here among the pines and listen while The hermit thrush, tree-top for peristyle, Exalts his song. He is an avatar From some lost universe or luckless star. Tiptoe and hold your breath lest you beguile Him from his aria. A spraying vial Of song, it lifts crescendo to the very bar. Who taught this melodist of lonely places? Who, having heard him, can forget or fear That beauty is a thing of many phases. . . . Above the sunlit, dappled aisles. Ob, hear, The coda rise to inu.istellar spaces These are the vn.-y gaits and heaven is near. —Leia Moise Eddy. GEORGE WASH ING TON- -TREE LOVER. If it is true that George Washington, as a small boy, •mcked down a cherry tree, he certainly made amend.- for that lapse later on, for he was a real treelover. “Washington's love of trees,” says the editor of “American Forests,” “is one of the most direct lines to his noble character, for some of the trees which he himself planted arc still living at Alount Vernon. His diaries arc filled with entries telling of his tree-planting work. These writings arc not of an emotional character. They are brief descriptions of searches for desirable trees, of transplantings, of protective tree care. It is said that Washington not only supervised this work but often took off his coat and participated in it. No one can read his diary, simple and matter of fact though the entries are, and fail to be irnpressril by his deep love for trees and by the care which he gave them. Thc-e can te no doubt but that his love was genuine. He wanted trees m t for pill'icily or advertising or boasting purposes, nor political advancement, but because trees to him were things essential to the fullness of life. ’ ’ PATRIOTIC MOVE WITH WALNUTS Alany monuments to Washington have been set up in the United S ates. Some of those marble sculptures are inspiring, but they lack the living appeal of trees planted in honour of the great patriot. Here is one writer’s tribute to the tree memorials:— “From Washington’s estate, Mount Vernon, symbol of home and all that is fine and beautiful in home life, living and lasting tokens have gone into nearly every State. Under the leadership.of the American Forestry Association walnuts gatbereci from the trees on the estate of Geutgo Washington have been planted by boys and girls throughout the nation. The purpose of this project is to keep forever alive the memory of America’s historic grounds through trees and at the same time to stimulate the boys and girls of the nation to greater interest in treeplanting.” GREEN MEMORIALS TO SOLDIERAfter the Great War miles of stie-'ts in Washington, Federal Capital of the U.S.A., and other large : 'ies of the States, were planlei with tires as memorials of men who gave their lives for their country. Some years ago a proposal was made in New Zealand that the main highway from Kaitaia (North Auckland) to Wellington and from Picton to Invercargill should be flanked with trees at suitable intervals, in memory of the 'Dominion’s soldiers, but the suggestion w-as not pushed to achievement. It is many years since New Zealand made a beginning with individual memorial trees and plantations, but much more could be done. Arbor Day Movement this year should be marked by plenty of planting in memory of New Zealanders w-ho have won the fight to this high honour. BRAVE PUKEKO. One day Air H. Guthrie-Smith was abroad on his estate of Tutira, Hawke’s Bay, observing his friends, the birds. He knew a place where a pair of pukoko had a nest; so he brought his fieldglasses to bear on the spot. An unexpected drama was suddenly staged. A harrier on high, with keen gaze turned on the ground, saw the hen on the nest and swooped down fiercely, but this savage attack did not daunt the brave bird. She defended her precious nest —and soon had an eager helper, her mate, who had been warily watching for enemies. There was some rapid action; many feathers were lost on both sides, but the battle ended in the flight of the harrier. No eggs were broken. NATIVE PIGEON AS A DAINTY FEEDER. Friendly native pigeons, which used to perch on the shoulders of Mr GuthrieSmith and his family, and feed from their hands, showed) a remarkable daintiness in their meal-time attitudes. One day, after gardening, Air GuthrieSmith carried some food for a pigeon in an earth-stained hand. The birds flew along all right, looked at the food, but would not touch it until it was offered from a washed hand. On another occasion, a Alaori woman on a visit to the farm tried) her hand at feeding the pigeons. They had confidence enough to approach her. but they were puzzled by the brown skin, and they declined to take the food. ALAS FOR THE GODWITS! If godwits could have for a while the power of speech enjoyed by birds in fairy tales! If they could only send a deputation to Messrs Forbes and/ Coates! A few days ago, when some of them were on the banks of Manakau Harbour, on their way to Spirits Bay, nt the extreme north of New Zealand, "or the beginning of their long flight Siberia, they came under the fire of lied “sportsmen.” A report of pitiless slaughter mentions that some of the butchers “matched their wits with the birds’ cunning.” They

dug holes in sandbanks and hid there until an opportunity came for easy potshots, at close range. New Zealand should not permit that kind of mean advantage against the godwit. Inc'ecd the birds should be granted complete protection against pot-hunting users of firearms or other death-dealing equipment. THE DEER DANGER. A report in a city newspaper recently had the headings ‘‘ Wild Life Control. Societies Anxious.” The societies were acclimatisation bodies, and they were anxious because they were losing some revenue as the result of the Government's unwillingness to decree a season of protection for deer in certain districts. The societies were looking at the case from their own viewpoint. They were not anxious about the destruction of forest by cteer. They were not anxious about the national welfare, which absolutely demands ruthless war against the deer nuisance. They were anxious only about the reduction of their toll from license fees. It is the plain duty of the Government to this generation and to posterity to save the forests from the ravaging deer which have increased enormously in sonic districts.