CITY RESERVES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3783, 14 September 1926, Page 5

CITY RESERVES.

GARDENING ACTIVITIES. TREE-PLANTING OPERATIONS. REPORT BY MR D. TAXNOCK. Mr D. Tunnock, superintendent of reserves, submits the following report of the work of his department for the year ending March 31:BOTANIC GARDENS. The past yeai was a peculiar one for gardening. Spring opened well and was most favourable for the early spring flowering bulbs, trees, and shrubs, but unfortunately it continued too long, and it was well into November before we w©ro able to put the summer flowering plants out. Though slow in developing at first they did well, and the display of bloom was well maintained throughout the year. Owing to the well distributed rainfall watering was unnecessary, and the lawns remained fresh and green through the summer. The need for more accommodation for our ever-increasing stock of indoor plants is very evident, and we trust thgt by securing the fernery from the Exhibition, and changing the present fernery into a greenhouse, to be able to prevent overcrowding for a year or two. RECREATION RESERVES AND TOWN BELT. The chief improvements made on the playing grounds was due to our ability to keep the grass mown with suitable mowers. Regular mowing and rolling is essential for the formation of a good, close sward, which is necessary for both orickot and football, and I trust that we will soon have the surface conditions of all the playareas suitable for lawn mowers. There were no new playing grounds added during the past year, but we are looking forward eagerly to getting Logan Park in order, which will relieve the congestion on our present grounds for a year or two. STREET PLANTING. Some cf the shubberies which were planted over 20 years ago are now overgrown, and it is our policy to cut these out and to replant with deciduous flowering kinds which can be kept low. Trees were planted in seven streets, and though we had a particularly windy season, tne results are satisfactory. Strips of parking were levelled, top-dressed, and sown down, and it is satisfactory to report that in most cases the residents keep the grass in front of their homes in good order. TREE PLANTING. A much larger area at Waipori was planted, and the balance of the first block of 700 acres was pitted in preparation for planting? next spring. Owing to tho frosts in winter, autumn planting is impossible, and on the exposed ridges planting seedlings is not very satisfactory, therefore it will be necessary to have a number of lined out trees which can stand some frost. Oregon spruce and larch are doing very well in the sheltered gullies, and by planting pinus radiata on the ridges, the land is utilised to the best advantage. We have sufficient seedlings in the nursery to plant ICOO acres, if the land is available. Planting was also continued near the North Taieri road, the water trough, and Long Ridge road on Flagstaff, and odd corners were filled in at Whare Flat and the Leith Valley. Altogether we put out 373,600 trees, which at from 6ft to 9ft, would cover 450 acres. The plantations have already justified themselves in the improved conditions which exist on ihe water catchment areas, the suppression of noxious woeds, and the almost complete extermination of rabbits; and their financial success is assured even though they only realise half the profits promised by planting companies. The interest taken in tree planting during recent years has been greatly stimulated by the Government Forestry Department and the operations ol planting companies, and quite a number of eminent foresters and others nave visited our plantations during the year These they consider are unique on account of the number of species which have been planted, the various mixtures which have been made, and the healthy growth of most which is due to varied soils, aspects, and altitudes on the Watershed. NURSERY WORK. Trees, shrubs, bedding plants, etc.—outwards, 152,849 Trees, shrubs, etc*—outwards by exchange, 1220. Trees, shrubs, etc.—inwards by exchange, 1786. Trees, shrubs, etc. —inwards by purchase. 4050. Trees, shrubs, herbaceous plants and bulbs in the nursery, 46,187. Forest trees planted at Waipori, 255,200. Flagstaff, 97,900. Fraser’s Gully, 6300. Whare Flat, 3500. Sandhills, 2000. Leith Valley, 8700. WEATHER RECORDS FOR YEAR ENDING MARCH 31, 1926.

Mean temperature for 12 monthß ... 60.6 Maximum temperature for 12 months 57.8 Minimum temperature for 12 months 43.3 Rainfall for 12 months 43.121 a Numbor of days on which rain fe11... 183

Mean. Maximum. MiniBainfull. Days. April 62.0 59.2 44.6 2.48 16 May 46.2 53.8 38.6 2.79 9 42.4 49.0 36.5 2.97 14 July 44.1 49.9 38.3 5.99 15 AllgUBt ... 44.2 50.2 38.2 5.91 13 September 46.8 62.7 39.0 3.24 22 October ... 62.6 61.2 43.9 2.22 13 November 54.1 59.8 48.5 4.61 20 December 65.7 64.3 47.2 2.24 18 Jacunry ... 69.0 67.2 50.8 2.41 13 February ... 66.1 63.6 48.6 6.98 21 March 65.1 63.6 46.7 1.38 9