LOBURN

North Canterbury Gazette, Volume 7, Issue 60, 30 November 1937, Page 2

LOBURN

Picnic at Botanic Gardens

FRUITGROWERS AND SCHOOL On Friday last the Loburn Fruitgrowers’ Association and the Loburn School combined for a picnic at the Christchurch Botanic Gardens. The day was excellent, the gardens at their best, and the pleasure of the day was heightened by the kindly attention of Mr Brocke, the foreman, xvho twice in the day showed the party round, in the morning over the ponds and native section and the Cockayne Memorial, and in the afternoon through the glass houses and nursery department. The native bush and Alpines and the established flowers round and iii the ponds were of great interest, the aim in the bush section being to have the trees make a conopy overhead, and to have the floor given up to ferns. The Alpine plantings have been duly described in the public press, but they cannot be over-praised, as they are unique in the world’s horticulture. A mixture of sphagnum moss (as used for nurserymen’s packing round plant roots when transported), peat and crushed rock, kept moist by seepage, has been devised and gives remarkable growth to alpines even from the snowline. The memorial to Dr Cockayne, one of New Zealand’s most famous botanists, should be seen by everyone. It is not yet complete, but a valley with sides of the mountain scree, with streams and lakes, is now finished, and is being planted with alpines of great scientific interest. The glass-houses are too well known to need description, but the nursery houses and potting and shade buildings have so greatly developed in recent years under Mr Macpherson that, though the problem of upkeep is acute, the results go to make the most splendid feature of the whole city—the Gardens. Returning to the camp beneath and around the famous willow oak by the paddling pool and swings, the party were catered for by the School Commitee and friends, and morning tea, lunch, and afternoon tea were greatly enjoyed among the splendid old trees in a very picturesque part of the Domain. One must not forget to add that three hearty cheers, called for by Mr George Webb, were accorded to Mr Brocke. Mr J. W. Macleod (president) represented the Fruitgrowers’ ’Association, and Mr R. Kempthorne the School Committee. •♦J .R.W.