NELSON GARDENS EXTENSIONS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 9 June 1927, Page 2

NELSON GARDENS EXTENSIONS

To the Editor)

Sir,—Mr Wilkinson's suggestion re planting native ferns is both happy and timely. ■ Experience proves that these ferns grow; remarkably well in Nelson, and although it will be some time before wo can hope to show anything approaching New Plymouth's very fine display, that is no reason at ail why n. start should not he made. There are suitable places iii he gully on the Zig Zag Hill behind the CawthroTf institute, the bank of the Maftai, ospeeinlly from the new Trafalgar .street bridge up to Collingwootl street, and that portion of the Church Hill in its southeast coiner from Nile slreel to Trafalgar Square. Tin- reclamation of the mud flu:, too —many of us are hopeful of seeing accomplished before we are promoted lo another sphere—that portion from Auckland Point tn the Tip. In this, provision will have to be made for tin- stream coining down St. Vincent street, as well as other surface water, and this could lie conducted by n. winding course to the Paver Mnitai, span* ned by various rustic, bridges. Its banks would be an ideal place for the planting of native ferns—both tree ferns and ferns of other varieties, and flowering gums, too. The free fern is truly the most graceful of all the beautiful things in this beautiful hind of ours, and we haven't far to go to find them. The Maitai Valley in its upper readies produces them "luxuriantly. The tree fern inspired Kipling's line lines:— "Last, loneliest, exquisite, apart. On us, on us. the unswerving season smiles. Who wonder, 'mill our fern, why men depart, To seek the Happy Tsles!" Yours, etc.. CANDA.