CITI" RESERVES PRAISED

Southland Times, Issue 24358, 12 February 1941, Page 8

CITI" RESERVES PRAISED

NURSERYMAN’S VISIT “I was astounded at the extent of the city reserves and the wonderful order in which they are kept,” said Mr V. C. Davies, managing director of the nursery firm of Duncan and Davies Ltd., New Plymouth, who has been visiting Invercargill, in an interview yesterday. Mr Davies, who was a delegate to the Horticultural Conference at Oamaru recently, visited the city reserves and some of the larger private gardens during a tour of the city. He was accompanied by Mr F. G. Hall-Jones and the officer in charge of the reserves, Mr W. Stapleton. “One of the most surprising features of the gardens here is the wonderful growth of rhododendrons, and many of the plants I have seen in the parks and private gardens will rank among the largest and healthiest growing in New Zealand,” said Mr Davies. Because rhododendrons grow so well in Invercargill Mr Davies considered that it would be an excellent idea to have a rhododendron dell, which could be laid out with a view to giving a great mass of colour. He suggested that the newer and better types of rhododendrons be used for this purpose. During his visit to the city he had noticed only the old types of this plant in use. | “Another pleasant feature of the city,” said Mr Davies, “is the large number of streets planted in shrubs. This is so distinct from other cities which mostly use deciduous trees. However, there are a few other native trees which could be used for street planting in this city, among which should be the Lancewood and Plagianthus Betulinus.” The two trees gave ideal clear stems and splendid round-headed tops with practically no trimming. ROAD-PLANTING SCHEME Mi- Davies said that a road-planting scheme was being discussed in the Invercargill district and it was to be hoped that, before any steps were taken, the best expert advice would be obtained, proper selected trees put in and provision made for their maintenance. Unfortunately, in many parts of | New Zealand trees were being planted | in a haphazard fashion and in many cases the quality and varieties were quite unsuitable for the locality with the result that the good work of road beautification was having a serious setback. “Many persons in the north have the conception that Southland is a cold sort of place,” said Mr Davies, “and yet I have been agreeably surprised at the number of frost-tender trees that can be grown in and around Invercargill providing shelter has been first obtained.” ® Mr Davies was impressed with the layout of the city and the foresight of the original settlers in the way they made provision for parks and other public planting. He thought that one feature lacking in the city was the native flora of the North Island, many members of which would grow quite successfully in Invercargill. He hoped that a portion of one of the parks in the city would be devoted to grow all New Zealand native trees that could be grown in the district and to encourage the scheme he would be willing to give a donation of choice named native trees to the city with a view to encouraging children’s interest in both the Maori and common names of native trees.