PALMERSTON'S CENTRAL BEAUTY SPOT.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 9404, 31 December 1910, Page 5

PALMERSTON'S CENTRAL BEAUTY SPOT.

' the square gardens, 'something about the plants [ and shrubs. descriptive, historical, and legendary. "What lovely flowers, and how beautifully kept these gardens are," was the remark overheard in the Palmerston Square early on Qhristmas Eve, the speaker being one of a party of ladies, who were evidently on a visit to the town for! the first time. "I must tell them about this when I go back to Dunedin. , ■ There had been a heavy downpour of rain, not long before, and the gardens certainly did look their best. There had been no drought to burn up the herbage, and with clean-washed asphalt footpaths, the sward fresh and bright green—instead of brown as it generally is towards tho end of the year—and almost every garden a blaze of variegated colour, the enthusiastic eulogium of the lady visitor was certainly amply justified. In fact, it was tho remark of more than one townsman that afternoon, as the sun broke out and cast its warm brightness on -the scene how very beautiful the Square gardens looked after the copious rainfall of a few hours before. . ' ' We are under the impression, indeed,, that through being so .accustomed to pass through the Square gardens, day after day, air the year round, people are apt to fail to realise what a really charming beauty spot these gardens are, and what a great attraction to the town, ae well as a most valuable asset. A "Standard" representative took a stroll through them, accompanied by the custodian yesterday afternoon, with a, view to obtain some detailed" information with regard to the ehrubs, flowers, trees, etc., and the methods by which the gardens are kept in their present admirable condition. „"'•,., ■,■ . His attention was first directed to a patch or two, here and there, where the grass was rusty brown, and apparently dead, in striking contrast to the."surrounding rich green verdure. That, said the custodian, "is due to a very troublesome fungus, which we have been unable to do much with in the-way. of. eradication. We did try what effect sulphur would have, and it appears to do some little good. One peculiar effect ot the fungus is to render the soil practicaily water proof, so that no moisture will rest on it or penetrate it, nOr will: it absorb any, and of course all growth : is killed. You will notice that it spreads in rings something in the same form as the fairy rings in England. In one place we bodily removed the soil to a depth, of some four inches, and we have tried various experiments, but, so far, without, much success. I mean to make a further effort to exterminate it with the aid of sulphur." But the experience of all practical men is that it is very hard to eradicate. If the Bordeaux mixture is applied strong enough to kill tho fungus it kills the grass also. '~ Your sward is very clear of weeds.

Yes, we keep the lawn mower going, and ,aIL weeds that grow any height above the surface must'succumb in the end; -What about Californian thistle? I venture to say that if you keep on cutting the thistle, of which we hear eo much, it will disappear. No weed or planib will long, survive constant cutting of its leaves. 't. ';; The flower beds are looking very nice. Yes, we try to keep our beds in bloom all the year round. As soon,as one flowering plant is done, it is removed and another substituted, and , while that is coming on there is generally : a bed in full bloom alongside or adjacent, so that there is always colour and brightness, no matter what the season is. What flowers are in bloom now?

Stocks, pansies, lobelia, carnations, gerbera (the South African daisy) and others. The water lilies in the lakelet are looking well. . . . Yes, they are known as wympnia, and are very good indeed. All the flowers you see have been raised at the Esplanade, where we have a glass house and all that is required. The work of looking after the gardens and the lawns, etc., rearing, transplanting, etc., keeps the staff pretty busy, all the year ... round. There is always a good deal to be done; and often- requiring to be. done all at once. The rockery is to be taken in hand next, and freshly done up, arid some ,6f the old . plants removed and substituted with pjantsjthat will keep longer,in bloom. .... '".' ~"."'.' ' -■■ What 'birds. have you round iShe iake'let? . ...

I am , afraid y.the kiwis are , all gone. Nothing has been. 6<ien of the last sur:vivor for some iinie. TVo of them died. There are three black swans; half-a-ddze'n .Mallard dueksy> and- two New Zealand native yduclee.

At. which .season.do the lawns give you most -.•■,■ . : •' ; When burflt up by drought. Then- the. weeds get a chance. • -So'longas the grates is green and strong the" weeds can be kep.t down. You notice there are no eigns of docks. The lawn mower fixes them all right. Small weeds like the plantain, which are close to the surface have.to be. got out with the hoe. . The lawns soon burn up when dry weather sets in, I suppose? Yes, but I am trying the!lndian. Doab grassy which , appears to be holding its 6wn well. ;It i$ a] drought-resisting grass,, and keeps green when other grasses burn up. I have. ;sown the Doab here and: there, and it is taking very well. It is deep-rooted, and I believe will make a good sward., it has been used in Sydney for the bowling; greene and lawns, and ie giving satisfaction. The lawns in the Square are much' greener than they were this time last year. . What are the hedges? Barberry, escallonia, holly, and Ake Ake. The latter Hike very well, but it is liable to attacks by insect pests and fungus growths at" the roots. You have a Tainui I see? Yes. I suppose you have heard the legend about the Maoris telling the late Dr Hector when they showed it to him at.Mokau, that it grew from one of the skids with' which they ueed to launch their canoes over the shore to the water in the long ago. Of course that is all exploded now. It belongs to the Pomaderris family, and is found in Australia, where it is known as the Victorian _ hazel. It can be propagated from cuttings and seeds. . Those ■ are two remarkable looking trees. , They are the Fourcroya gigantea. From the ground upward is one actual flower stem. They only flower once and then die. The blooms are now gone, they were a yellowish hue. The tree comes from the central States of ■ Southern America. It is . propagated from buds of which there are great numbers.

Is that a cactus? . 'That is an Agava, but is not ot tne cactus tribe, though most people would think so. It is similar to the American plant from which the eisaF fibre is taken. Though so like the cactus, it is not even related to it. Are the environments of the bquaro favourable to the gardens? ■ No, indeed, far from it. The high winds and dust are a perpetual handicap from which all the shrubs and flowering plants suffer. We have our limitations. I assure you, and all the skill and care will rot produce the best results, while, the wind and dust have to be taken into account. These beds of Gerbera Jameebni have done very well this season. Those beds to which you refer as a blaze of colour contain nothing out ot the. common, but the bright hues are

pleasing to the eye. ■ Do I fancy the macrocarpa? No. I do not. Chiefly for the reason that hedgeplants or other shrubs in their vicinity suffer. You see how stunted that hedge ie We cut-away the, roots of the macrocarpa. but it has not- done much good, fs that a macrocarpa near the- weighbridge house ? Oh no. that is one of the finest forest "trees in the Square. That is' a Wellmgtonia gigantea, one of the celebrated red

wood giant ; trees of- California, which sometimes reach a height of 300 feet. It is more bushy where it stands than in its native forests, where it grows a straight branchless etem, often with a diameter of from 20 to 30 feet. That will be a splendid tree as it develops further. It is fortunate that such a fine tree was preserved.

That is a Rowan tree, better known in England perhaps as the Mountain Aeb. It is not often that the berries appear on so young a tree. You will notice the effect of the prevailing winds on that English laurel treet. You see it is bent right over at the top. There is one matter I might mention . here and that is that trees never do well , planted in grass. The grass keeps away the moisture, and the tree languishes. If a tree is to do well, the ground must b& kept clear of herbage for a radius at least/equal to that of the roots, and * as the roots expand the radius of clear ground must be extended.

That is a, plant of the variegated phormium tenax (New Zealand flax). A gentleman from the south told me that he saw plants near Lake Wakatipu up to fifteen feet in height. That is 'a. toi (not toi toi) and is of the mountain palm and cabbage tree tribe. There are some, clumps of toi toi also.

Those are the English trees, which were cut last autumn. They don't look as if they had been spoiled, do they? There are planes and elms.

About seats. Yes, we could do with one or two more in the rotunda enclosure, though the gardens are not badly supplied with seats. I am pleased to learn that visitors express their appreciation of the gardens, which might be made even more attractive under more favourable conditions.

Yes, high shelter trees would certainly minimise, the prejudicial effects of wind and duet, but they would also, hide the gardens, which is an insuperable objection. I have not much to complain of in : the way of vandalism, and trees and shrubs have not suffered to any great extent through that cause. As regards the flower beds, which, you. say, the Dunedin visitors admired so much, the calceolarias and the anemones have been particularly good. The Nemesia ie one of the best annuals, and its bright coloured blooms are always admired. Tho local conditions suit the calceolaria admirably. . • ■'....■