STUDY OF PEATS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22421, 18 May 1936, Page 11

STUDY OF PEATS

DOMINION EESEAECH LIGHT ON EARLY HISTORY MISS L. M. CRANWELL'S TASK A close study of New Zealand peats with the object of gaining extra knowledge on the early history of the Dominion is shortly to be made by Miss Lucy M. Cranwell, botanist at the Auckland War Memorial Museum, who returned from a visit overseas last week.

Miss Cranwell left New Zealand over a year ago for the purpose of attending the Imperial Botanical Conference in London and the International Botanical Congress in Amsterdam. In addition, however, she spent much time in research, and made a special visit to Sweden at the invitation of botanists who were deeply interested in New Zealand botany.

In Sweden Miss Cranwell met Professor Lennart von Post and Professor du Keitz, and was introduced to her new field of study. Although previously interested in the study of peats, Miss Cranwell discovered in Sweden that a technique had been developed as a result of which from the fossilised tree pollen held in the various strata of peat, the changes in forestation and the weather indicated since the glaciation of the world could be tabulated. Collection in Sweden Miss Cranwell said that some years ago a fine collection of New Zealand peats had been made by Professor Carl Caldenius when on a visit to the Dominion, but their resources had not been tapped, because of insufficient knowledge of New Zealand trees. Advantage was taken of Miss Cranwell's visit to Europe to gain further knowledge on the subject. After carrying out research at the University of Stockholm and making expeditions to the boglands of Sweden, Miss Cranwell and the professor wrote a preliminary paper on the subject. Special importance was attached to the research, she said, because the results were not exactly what was anticipated. In conducting her research in the Dominion, Miss Cranwell continued, it would be necessary to make a collection of the various strata of peat and examine them under the microscope. The pollens would have to be identified and counted, so that the dominance of trees in the various periods could be determined. The ages of the strata would be discovered by geological research and the finding of ancient relics. Cooler and Drier Climates As a result of previous investigations, Miss Cranwell said, the indications were toward colder and drier climates. The dominance of trees indicated that the kauri, oaks, alders, limes and other trees of warm climates, were becoming more and more dominated by spruces and birch.

It will be of interest to botanists irt the Dominion that Miss Cranwell *as able while in Europe to obtain duplicates of a valuable collection of seaweeds made in New Zealand in 1874, and named by the authority. J. C. Agardh.