TREES AND FERNS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22403, 27 April 1936, Page 8

TREES AND FERNS

SHIPMENT TO AfRICA COMING EMPIRE EXHIBITION PREPARATION IN NURSERIES [BY TELEGRAPH OWN CORRESPONDENT] NEW PLYMOUTH. Sunday The New Zealand trees and ferns for the Empire Exhibition at Johannesburg, South Africa, which will open in four months' time, are to be supplied by a New Plymouth firm, which is now packing a large consignment. The trees have been ordered by the New Zealand Government, and will be placed under the supervision of Mr. M. O'Brien, an officer of the Department of Industries and Commerce, who will be in charge of the New Zealand section at the exhibition. They will arrive in South Africa several weeks before the exhibition, and at Johannesburg will be specially acclimatised in glasshouses. The trees are being prepared and packed at the nurseries. Each is carefully examined by a Government inspector to ensure that there are no defects, as conditions for the entry of plants into South Africa are very strict. They are in a special sterilised compost, for the entry of ordinary soil into the country is not allowed. They are carefully packed into cases with plate-glass let in for light. Special ventilation is provided at the ends, the apertures being covered with gauze, and a framework to Btop the draught and keep out vermin. The trees will be taken on the ship as deck cargo, under the personal supervision of Mr. O'Brien. They will be examined every week, which is the reason for the special packing case. Included in the consignment is a large ' number of tree ferns, which are to be used for special decoration in the court. The Prince of Wales feathers fern and other filmy ferns are to be shown in glass cases. A similar consignment of native plants was sent from the same nurseries in 1914 to the Panama Pacifio Exposition. They are now in the Golden Gate Park, at San Francisco. Other orders for overseas are being prepared at the nurseries for shipment on the steamer Durham. There is one consignment of 20 30 cases, consisting mostly of ferns and other rare Xew Zealand plants, for the Kew Gardens. Another interesting order is a consignment of three dozen pohutukawas, which are being sent to one of the warmest parts of Great Britain as a shelter belt. On the Durham the plants will be placed in the chill room, where the temperature is kept between 35 and. 45 degrees.