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Otago Daily Times, Issue 18536, 22 April 1922, Page 3

PUBLIC SPIRITED WORK OF MR H. HART AND MR H. L. DARTON*. SPLENDID VERONICA BEDS AT WETHERSTONES. And now let me pay tribute to the fine work that has been performed by two gentlemen who have for the past seven years been engaged in gathering from ail parts of the D9minion, and cultivating a collection of veronicas which may now be said to include specimens of practically every species of the genus that has been found in New' Zealand from the period of Darwin's visit to the present day. Messrs H. Hart and 11. L, Darton, of Lawrence,, began their commendable and public-spirited work in 1915. They wore led to it primarily by a conversation between Mr 11. Hart and the late Mr Peter Barr (the wellknown member of the London firm of Barr and Sons) when on a visit to the Dominion somo years since. After expressing his unqualified admiration for the New Zealand flora on account of its intensely interesting though puzzling variety of form, he concluded by asking Mr Hart why New Zealand people planted their gardens with nothing but “imported" bushes. Mr Hart mentioned this conversation to Mr H. Darton, and these gentlemen decided to work together to see what could be done to create .a more general interest in our native flora. They felt, also, that if something were not done soon many varieties of the New Zealand plants would disappear owing to the ravages of fire and their destruction by sheep and rabbits. The Government of New Zealand had made extensive arrangements for the conservation of New Zealand fauna by setting aside large areas for its preservation. Why might not something be done in a similar manner for onr native flora? They felt that with a little extra care and trouble most of the New’ Zealand genera could bo transplanted from theirnaturnl habitat, and grown more or Jess successfully in a new environment. The. genus selected by them for a trial was the Veronica, owing to the fact that it is by far the largest genus of our flowering plants. They procured a copy of Mr T. F. Cheeseman’s “ Manual of the Now Zealand Flora” and set to work, and the result of their labours, extending over seven years, is now in evidence at Wetherstonee, where almost all the species mentioned in the Manual can be seen settled down in their new homes, and growing, with hardly an exception, quite luxuriantly. It was known to them that a fair number of species were growing in several of the public gardens, and a ready response by the curators at Queenstown. Timaru, Oamaru, Dunedin, Invercargill. Christchurch, Wellington, and Gore was made to their request for, cuttings of these. As a matter of fact, the first cuttings for their collection came from the curator of the Christchurch Gardens. Of course, many of these were unnamed, or wrongly named, but a specimen of each in flower and seed was sent on to the original, collectors for their identification, and F. G. Gibbs. W. Townson. 11. Hill, Dr Petrie, Dr L. Cockayne, and T. F. Cheesenian assisted them materially. Then a visit from Dr Cock ay no to the plaiTtation at Wctherstones cleared up many doubts as to the correctness of the classification. The next, step was to seek the co-opera-tion of any who had veronica plants in their private gardens. Dr Irwin Hunter (who secured Ac late Mr H. Matthews's growing plants), Mr Seaton, of Fairfield, Mes?rs°D. L. Roppehvell and .las, Speden, of Gore, among others, were in strong sympathy with the movement, and .large and important additions to the collection were thus made. Mr Hart and Mr Darton inspector! again and again the veronicas planted in the various city reserves, always on the look-ont. for one that had been overlooked. and from this source several plants were added to the list- Any varieties listed by nurserymen were, if not previously possessed by 'them, gathered to the fold. A North Island nurseryman, in supplying a few plants which had been ordered, sent one wronglv named, but which turned out to be one of those which the Wetherstones cultivator? much desired to have. In the hope that such another pleasing mistake might occur again, they purchased the whole of the remaining nursery collection, but their hope was vain. • • * * VISITS TO PUBLIC GARDENS BY MESSRS HART AND DARTON. Three or four visits were paid to the Christchurch Botanical Gardens, and several veronicas were unearthed from this source. One is certainly a very rare and prettv plant, about 10ft high. The name given to it by its new possessors for distil dive reference. Upokotangatai, brings forth from visitors the question; “Whoever, gave that name to it? What, does it. mean?” Another, Karamni, also locally named, has the makings of a novel bush. Both these veronicas came originally from the Chatham Islands. Many a time the searchers hud to get down on all fours and explore under the many big trees that, now adorn the Christchurch Gardens. What was most striking were the immense labels used there by Armstrong and bis predecessors forty or fifty years ago. Every hole and corner was searched with the iiopo (hat. hidden away in some remote place, some of the long-sought-for varieties might be found. Mr Young was ever ready to belli, and did all that was, asked from him in his most genial and happy style. An old label of i.igust.rifolia. a plant that, is much dc-ired at Wetherstones, was found in the gardens at. Christchurch. Apparently the plant, had been growing there at one time.’ Many cuttings were brought away labelled Ligustrifolia. l;y the searchers, but. when grown at Wetherstones they proved to be the wrong thing, showing that if yon put the name of apple on a. cabbage plant there is no chance of it developing' into anything else but a cabbage. Visit s were paid to the I imam and Oamaru public gardens. In the former plants the searchers were given a free hand, niid that lovely plant, Diosmaefolia Tvisepla, was got from Mr I>. Harper, the caretaker, wiio has a very fine lot. of veronicas growing under his care. Oamaru Gardens were searched from one end of the garden to the other, and a? the grounds are of some extent, hours and hours at different times were spent exploring every nook and corner in the place.