NELSON'S GARDENS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 8 June 1927, Page 9

NELSON'S GARDENS

PROVISION FOR NATIVE .SECTION

Sir,—Enclosed cutting, sent on to me by Mr Tannock, will .show you the interest being taken by other cities in the collection of our native flora, and as Nelson is looked upon as a garden city it seems a pity that a section of the Church Hill could not be devoted to making a native reserve, so that the general public and visitors could see the different trees, shrubs and plants growing, each one named.

The City Council are members of the New Zealand Institute of Horticulture, and help could be procured from them in this direction, as the aim of the Institute is to beautify -our cities. It is quite certain that valuable help could be procured from many who have been interested in native flora all their lives —men like Mr F. G. Gibbs, who is always willing to assist, as are many others. J

Then, why not copy New Plymouth and many cities by having ferneries to display the wonders of this great .section of plant life. The cost to make a big native ferneiy would be small, and once it was made many would be willing to procure the ferns'. The Society is collecting these far members in many parts, and it would be safe in slating that enough ferns have been sent to one member in Dunedin to fill a tig fernery in Nelson. So if it is possible to get a few sufficiently interested and, most necessary, a few that will help, the suggestion may be accomplished. But not'hmg can be done without the help of the City Council.—l am, etc., ' A. WILKINSON. Nelson, 7th June. [The clipping referred to in the above letter was taken from the "Otago Daily Times," when it appeared under the heading "Our Native Plants." The letter deals particularly with celmisias and tells how a very "beautiful and rare specimen, C. cordatifolia was added to the collection in the Dunedin Botanical Gardens. After a three years search Mr 11. Hart and Sir George"FemVick obtained the above plants from .Marlborough, where they were found at an altitude of 6000 feet on Mount Fishtail, Richmond Range. Two attempts to climb to this almost inaccessible spot nad previously been made by four men, including Mr Wilkinson.]