NEW ZEALAND FLORA

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18768, 23 January 1923, Page 4

NEW ZEALAND FLORA

TO THE EDITOR. Sin,—As a "visitor to Otago I write to express my admiration of tlie work which has been done during the last few yours by Messrs Hart Bros, and Darton in tho colhction end cultivation of veronicas at Wethei'stones, near Lawrence. Tho fame of this collection: hud reached run lung ago, and now that I have been at last privileged to visit it I must confess, as the Queen of Sheba confessed to Solomon, Unit the truth was more wonderful even than the report had been. In this garden (here are brought together practically all known species of vdonica fiom all parts of New Zealand, all known varieties, and a great number of hitherto unknown and undesoribed species and varieties of this most difficult and fascinating genus, amounting in all to perhaps three hundred species and varieties. Lawrence is rather out of tho way. and as long ns the collection was there, and there only, comparatively few people could sec it; but, by tho generosity of Messrs Hart, the collection has now been practically duplicated in tho Dunedin Botanic Bardens. Luckily, veronicas transplant easily and grow readily from cuttings, so tiiat it has been found possible to transfer tho collection, and thus to make it accessible to a far greater public. 'i he .collection in the Gardens is being moss capably and enthusiastically fostered by Mr 'iannock, and a unique opportunity is now presented to all students of the subject to study this puzzling group of plants under the most favourable conditions. 'I. here is now no such collection anywhere else m New Zealand; the devotion and enthusiasm which have gono to the making of it are unfortunately’ rare qiialii ies; I hope and trust that tho citizens of Dunedin (and ot New Zealand) are fully aware ot their privilege and duly grateful. . . The value ot such a collection ns pus is almost incalculable. It makes it possible for tho vonng student—and Ihe old also, for that matter—to identify his finds and to get the assistance which is so very necessary in Ihe classification and comparison of'his materials; it is an inspiration in itself to tho young, an inspiration such as is sorely needed in this country—an inclucemeni to tuko up and further tlio study of our indigenous llora, one of the most interesting in the world; and, finally, it is of (ho highest value, to tho scientist who can hero see before him the in mg plants, not merely dried scraps such as the herbarium provides, upon which, ho is to work When tho day arrives for tho writing of tho definite monograplp on veronica-, a. day which this collection itself clearly brings nearer, tho lucky author will find his material hero ready to his hand, and will be spared an infinite amount ot troublesome and expensive journeying m the mountainous regions of New Zealand. It is, of course, essential that al. the living plants in tho collection, when it is_ complete, shall be distinctly labelled, ana mat wherever possible the locality, date, ■ name of collector, and other details shall be supplied. Unfortunately this is not by any means always easy, and in spite _of the almost incredible labour and expense in correspondence undertaken by Messrs Hart and Darton, it has too often proved quite impossible to have tho full history ot everyone of these plants. ... Having made such an excellent start with veronica, those pontlomcn, ic is satisfactory to know, arc now going on to do similar work for oilier difficult genera, and' are at present eourenti'Ming upon Celmisia. A part of mv object in writing this letter is to suggest that all students, all collectors and growers of indigenous plants, and all those who visit the Southern Alps even if they are not skilled l>otn.nists, should do -all t.ie.v can to further this good work by securing and sending to Mr Tannock nil material which is likelv to bo of use or intcresr. In conclusion, I wish (o say that I have myself found the collection of the very greatest value in assisting mo to ieac-.1l definite conclusions in regard to critical or ill-defined species, in making mo acquainted with many newly-discovered forms for which I might hn'o had to wait for years, and in mai.iv other ways. My visit, lo Wetherstones has indeed' been a privilege and a revelation. Enthusiasts, like Sir George Fenwick and Dr Fulton, are of course also collecting and cultivating native plants, continuing the fine work of Buchanan. Matthews, and Martin, and the co-operation of these gentlemen has been of tho greatest assistance lo Messrs Hart and Darton in their work.—l am, etc., A axor.ii W’ai.r,. Professor of English at Canterbury College and Honorary Curator of thn Herbarium at the Christchurch Museum.