TREE PLANTING.

Otago Witness, Issue 4042, 1 September 1931, Page 44

TREE PLANTING.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —I sympathise with the writer of Passing Notes in his protest against the planting of pinus insignia in the vicinity of Dunedin. I am a native of Invercargill, and it used to enrage me to see a place that was once all virgin bush planted with long straight rows of pinus insignis. Still more did it enrage me to see that exotic planted in a pretty sheltered glade of the only native reserve Invercargill has, to grow up and hide the native trees.. Also, be it noted, nothing will grow under pinus insignis: no ferns or mosses or young trees. Do not let vour City Fathers spoil

the beauty’ of Dunedin. Dunedin is beautiful beyond compare. Auckland tries to crow over her, because —why?—because she is jealous. That is why. I speak without prejudice, because I belong to neither. The eucalypts would not be so bad. They harmonise better with our native bush and provide nectar for the honeyeating native birds. This is bird month. Remember the birds. The native flax,'too, is a very payable proposition, and is as good as trees in the prevention of floods. There are many native trees that grow’ quite fast. Totara will grow easily’ from cuttings. There are plenty of books on the growing of native trees, and these surely are available to the leading citizens of Dunedin. However, it is for Dunedin citizens themselves to decide whether they’ make themselves targets for the slings and arrows of lesser breeds, or whether they’ show themselves worthy’ of the heritage they possess. —I am, etc., ''SOUTHLANDER. Ferndale, August 27.