PLANT ACCLIMATISATION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18356, 23 March 1923, Page 6

PLANT ACCLIMATISATION.

ACTIVITIES IN AUCKLAND.

' ——" ' ••wSl# NEW CHERRY FROM CHI® ■ * . .. • s&*s

I The council of the plant brand* of the Auckland Acclimatisation Society met on Wednesday, Mr. F. C. Rollett presiding. .. (• ' t'? A letter was received from the Board of Commissioners of Agriculture and Forestry, Honolulu, containing instructions regarding shipment of Avocada oeedlings. Discussion took place regarding the establishment of a fruit-testing and fruitbreeding station in the. Auckland Province, and arrangements were made for a special committee to meet representatives of the Nurserymen's Association, the Fruitgrowers' Federation, and the Horticultural Division, to go fully into this matter. • Mr. T. H. Patterson, instructor in agriculture, reported that he had inspected the lotus plants received through Dr. A. H. Hallen from Fiji, and suggested that as they had made sufficient progress in the greenhouse, they should be planted out in the open. V- . £ A request was received from Mr. A. Worstall that an attempt should be made to obtain from the American Governor of Agana seeds of : a special fruit tree for trial in Norfolk and the Cook Islands. $ Mr. T. H. Patterson reported that he had received through Dr. . Hallen roots of the Para .grass, one iof the great foddeff grasses of i? iji, and was trying it. He considered that it should, be carefully handled, as if planted near drains it might block them. He also reported thatKihuyu grass planted at . Albany* in conjunction with lotus major was thriving wonderfully, and promised to make a most important fodder for gum lands and similar soils. ' A large and valuable collection of native tree and other seeds was received from Mr. A. Dyke, of Mauku. It was arranged to send samples to the various persons and organisations in Japan, California, Canada and the United States, who had so generously - provided seeds from their countries for trial in New Zealand/ Mr. Hayward Wright submitted leaves of the Tanghsi cherry, a new species from China now growing at Avonaale, which fruits ten days earlier than other known varieties. He stated that the : leaf was absolutely free from the wire leech, which was such a pest to cherry groves. *