THE BOTANIC GARDENS
TO THE EDITOR
Sir,—l notice that our Mayor has suggested the formation of a "Friends of the Art Gallery " organisation, similar to the one called " Friends of the Museum." A very good idea! What about forming a third, to be called "Friends of the Botanic Gardens"? At present the Gardens appear to be " nobody's child." Anyone who has visited the public gardens in other centres cannot fail to feel rather ashamed of the state of our own Gardens. As a frequent visitor, it appears to me that they have " slipped " badly in recent years. Granted there are some fine features, such as the roses, the azaleas, and the rhododendrons, it would still be possible to mention many things that are not as they should be For instance, why are the trees not labelled, as in the Christchurch Gardens? And then the labels that have been provided seem to have a habit of attaching themselves to the wrong Dlants. Young trees and shrubs arcplanted with simply nurserymen's labels attached, and no steps are taken to attach permanent labels. To my mind, botanic gardens in which plants are not labelled or. worse still, incorrectly labelled, lose much of their value. I wonder if the fine pinus insignis trees in the Upper Gardens are all doomed to be cut down. Every winter we notice a few more disappear. I hope the few now standing will be spared to continue to form s fine feature of the landscape. I might also mention the hillside above the Leith which was cleared of native bush a few years ago and is now overgrown with hemlock, thistles, and elderberry The new superintendent of reserves certainly has a biff job in front of him to bring our Gardens into line with those of other centres. It is to bfc hoped that he will return from his trip abroad with many new ideas and will make our Gardens once more something of which we can be proud. In the meantime that excellent body the Amenities Society might possibly take a friendly interest in our Botanic Gardens.—T am. etc. Garden Lover.
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Otago Daily Times, Issue 23810, 17 May 1939, Page 6
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354THE BOTANIC GARDENS Otago Daily Times, Issue 23810, 17 May 1939, Page 6
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