THE MANUKA

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21912, 22 September 1934, Page 15

THE MANUKA

Sir, —"Manuka's" championing of his nom-de-plume flower as our national one will be received by numerous pastoralists with the same pardonable doubt as the Prince of Wales' remark, when touring the thermal districts a few years ago. After a sumptuous repast of blackberries near the buried village, the Prince said that "New Zealanders did not realise how fortunate they were in having such a luscious fruit growing wild in such profusion." J recollect that during the early days of the Farmers' Union in the \Y airarapa a remit was tabled at the general conference "that tea-tree, which was spreading at an alarming rate throughout the country, should be declared a noxious weed." This was quickly disposed of by the "wool kings," were not keen on having another pest declared "noxious." Since settlement b.egan in New Zealand black manuka, our national flower aspirant, has cost pastoralists more to keep in check than all other weeds combined. There are two species, the black and the white, called after the colour of the respective wood. The white manuka, whose wood turns red with maturity, is mostly found growing on sweet loose country and has a pinky white undeveloped looking flower and a strong aromatic scent. The national flower candidate will grow anywhere. The poorer or more sour the ground is the thicker it grows and wherever it gets a hold on good land it quickly reduces it to poverty for other plants. In my experience it does not grow large enough to be useful for any other purpose than firewood or light stock yards. In mid-summer months when in full bloom it is no doubt a beautiful sight which might even be appreciated by the luckless owner of the sheep run mentioned by "Manuka." Chas. Cross. Waimiha.