FOR OUR GRAVES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16511, 11 October 1915, Page 2

FOR OUR GRAVES

A TREE-PLANTING SCHEME.

(From Ode Own Cobrespondsnt.)

LONDON; August 28.- A As the outcome of a suggestion by a Canadian member of the Overseas Club,; the club has decided uj>on a very comprehensive soheme of planting suitable trees over the. graves of overseas soldiers -who have fallen on the battlefields 'of: the great Tvir all "oVcr the world. Mr Fane Sewell first suggested that maple seeds should b'e_ sown over the graves of th Canadian dead in Eland'ers; and the Central Committee of the clmb has taken up the suggestion t and, developed it, > and now proposes to sow' native tree's on the graves of all overseas soldiers. At Langemarcke;, on . the old; Ypijes salient, whore the Canadians first 'covered? themselves with glory during the : terrible gas attacks in April, the Overseas Club will plant an avenue of maples when the ground has been recovered by the victorious Allies. - '' When the trees - attain ■ full growth," writes a correspondent of Land and Water, v "they will stand as sacred groves. Each spring as they burst into young leaf, each autumn as tney redden to the fall, they will bear testimony' to the undying glory, 1 ' and courageous self-sacrifice of those hrave : Canadian regiments' that took theirplace willingly and spontaneously in the fighting line of the Empire."! The -wattle (mimosa).'has been selected for Australia, and the ti tree for New Zea- f land. Exactly what is meant by the latter the committee has yet to decide. What is popularly called "tea tree" is' the manuka. ' whkh is not particularly characteristic of : New Zealand. In fact, many of the wounded have told me that, the histario hillsides of Gallipoli are covered with- a scrub .which, is very like manuka. On the other hand, if the "ti" tree, popular'y known as tne cabbage tree ; is referred' to, then the committee has selected .a ' tree. \ which is not orily very picturesque and characteristic of New Zealand, but lis . also a very sturdy grower in just such condi- ;• tions as it would be asked to thrive in in, ■ Gallipoli. It, moreover, grows very freely, from seed.