IN TOUCH WITH NATURE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18687, 17 October 1922, Page 2

IN TOUCH WITH NATURE

DOUBLE-FLOWERING TEA-TREES. Bt J. Dbtjmmono, F.L.S.. F.Z.S. A corrcspondonr. at Wbangaroa, North Auckland, slates that, about 200 plants of the double-flowering tea-tree have been taken on the MTntosh Estate, Tolara North, during the past, twenty years. “Tim first plant,” the letter continues, “was discovered bv Mr A. O. Smith, of Hokianga, in 1898. 'Some of the plants had pink flowers, but the majority showed pure white flowers only. Some of the flowers were like small roses, as described by your Dunedin correspondent; others had abortive flowers showing innumerable petals so closely packed that, they could not open out. One wonderful plant had both pure pink flowers and pure white flowers at the same time, as well as pink and while flowers with the alternating colours in definite sectors. Notwithstanding what you state as to this form of tea-tree being a malformation unable to reproduce itself from seed, it is impossible to resist the conviction that these coming up year after vear in iho same small area were seedlings from a fine tail tree with double flowers which grew in their midst. On the reverse slope of the hill, and beyond the distance the wind was likely to carry seeds, no double pctalisation showed. Unfortunately, the parent tree was destroyed by fire about three years ago. Previously some of its seeds were sent to the Zoological Gardens at Wellington, and, later, my son was shown a small plant stated to have been grown from these seeds. It should be possible to verify this.” A spray kindly sent by the correspondent shows that the double-flowered pink blooms were in evidence when lie wrote, on September 16.

Another letter on double-flowering and tinted toa-lrees is from Mr G. A. Green, secrefary of the New Zealand Association of Nurserymen, who writes from One Tree Hill, Auckland. He states that he has given a good deal of time to the ten-tree or the manuka—the names_ often are interchangeable—and that he is astonished at the differences in the colours of the flowers. He refers to the large-flowered species, Imptospcrmurn scoparium, usually a shrub, seldom a tall tree. In its flowers he has seen tints ranging from the faintest pink to deep red, which is rare. His letter, dated September 18, is as follows: —“In some parts of North Auckland, over whole areas, plants mn- be fpund at die present time with flowers showing distinct shades. On slopes at Tinopai, Otamatea County, cast of Kaipara Harbour, plants with coloured flowers are as plentiful as plants with white flowers.- In some places, they give the whole of the hillsides a--delicate hink blush. _ Some years ago, in that district. I obtained no fewer than twenty-four distinct shades ,of pink and red. They were given to ; a university graduate who was preparing her thesis on the manuka. I have also seen occasionally plants with double white and double pink flowers.”

Mr Greon supersets that, the races of this common New Zealand plant supply opnortunities to a careful propagator to select and work up ten or twelve distinct shades and place them on the market with gardeners’ names. Ho quite correctly that few New Zealanders realise the beauty of a tea-tree in bloom. Ho has_ found the bsual while tea-tree to be variable in resncct to its time for blooming in different places. Mr R. M. Laing. Christchurch, gives the flowering time of the shrubby large-flowered species in a general wav from November to April; the Hon. 6. M. Thomson states that it flowers in Dunedin in August; and Mr T. F. Cheesman, Auek land, gives the season generally from October to April. Mr Green has seen individual plants in the North Island, on coasts and south-easterly slopes, where there are no fronts, begin to bloom as early ns February 20. The number of plants in bloom there gradually increases until about tbo middle of April, when acres of them on the high lands provide good autumn food for many colonies of bees. As late winter arrives, the blooms come out in the upper valleys. By the end of September they spread to lower valleys and to the flats, which in November become a sheet of white. On the flats, he states, the plant usually/blooms only once each year, but on high lands where there are no frosts, each individual may bloom twice, or even three or four times. The taller tea-tree or manuka, which has smaller and narrower leaves and smaller flowers, and which sometimes is fifty feet high—Leptospermnm ericoides officially—seems to have consistently white flowers. Mr Green recommends it as a hedge.

A white-eye’s skin, shot at Murreo Hill Station, Punjab, India, by Mr D. C. Monro, and sent by him to his father, Mr C. J. Monro, Palmerston North, has been forwarded for comparison with the species of white-eyes that supply. one of the most charming 1 features of this country’s avifauna. The shot sadly mutilated the little bird, and the skin was not improved Jn transit, but there are differences easily noted when it is comnarcd with a New Zealand white-eye. While both have the same unpretending appearance, with a general mouse-colour lint below, the Indian bird has a livelier yellow on the head. It probably is the widely ranging Zosterops palpebrosa of India. The New Zealand species, identical with an Australian species, is/ Zosterops Casrulcscens. Australia has no fewer than nine species, some of them localised in distribution. All of the species known to ornithologists have a while ring round each eye, but it is not always so conspicuous as in the'New Zealand species. All, apparently. Jay the same pale blue spotless eggs found in New Zealand nests, in which three or four may be seen lying like jewels.

Mr D. C. Monro states that the North Indian white-eyes, like their New Zealand cousins, are insectivorous, but take a little fruit. Ho adds: “They go about in flocks here in the same way as they do m New Zealand, making the same little cry, and at times one, probably a male, warbles' a short song. The parent calls its young m the same twitter.” _ Another correspondent has sent the following extract from a note by the lato Mr T. 11. Potts, Governor’s Bay, one of the most ardent bird lovers Now Zealand’s birds has fascinated. “The while-eye’s power of song does not seem to be appreciated as much as it deserves. I have heard individuals sing their sweet few notes in a way that would charm the most exacting bird fancier that over gathered chickweed.”

Several reports have been sent in of the shining cuckoo’s arrival. “One has been calling in our garden since July 15. ’ Mrs C. M. -Auckland wrote from Akaroa on September 25: “It seems always to be in one place, and it called continuously for some time, but stopped on September 17, and wo have not heard it since. It may have been left behind when other shining cuckoos migrated at tho end of last summer.’’ Mr W. H. Peek postmaster at Whitiauga. Coromandel Peninsula, wrote from Mercury Bay on Sunday, September 17: “At 12.30 p.m. to-day I heard the pleasantly anticipated notes, about six or seven of tho double notes, and two of tho finish, uttered twice from a weeping willow.” Mr S. C. 1... M'Coll, Amodoo Bay, Coromandel Peninsula, wrote on .September 2b“The shining cuckoo was heard here first on September 19.”

Mrs R. Croswell, Konlu, Parikanapa, on an inland road from Gisborne to Frasa”. - - town and Waikaremoana, via Tinirolo, ropoiis that tuis are plentiful there, and that wokas, tomtits, pied fantails and whiteheads, or bush canaries, are present. She reports one black fantail. “We never hud seen or heard of bellbirds hero until one appeared at Mr Flank Moricc’s Whakapunake.” Mrs Grcswcll writes; “It became so tamo that it answered when its tui-like notes were whistled. Since then Mr Crcswd! has seen a bellbird in onr paddocks.” Last month, the. cat brought in a red-poll, which Mrs Croswell clearly describes; ‘•Smaller than a female sparrow, with the same shade of brown on the back, crimson spot on the top of brown head; mottled crimson breast, shading to whitish-grey, bill and legs very slender.”