THE DOMAIN.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4818, 5 December 1893, Page 1

THE DOMAIN.

A Description. Ib has been well said thit if you interest the people in what ia beautiful in nature the people will cease to be interested in what ia unwholesome in art. The mission of a pubiic garden is to interest and instruct the people in the beautiful tree-life of the earth, and to gratify those tastes for the lovely with which everyone is imbued more or less. Few persona there are who are not filled with delight at the handsome prospect of a smiling landscape j who do not love the shade of the umbrageous trees j who do not fiad pleasure in the scent of the flower and the beauty of its form; who do not find interest in plant life whether it be magnificently large or elegantly small. Man's natural tastea being for the beautiful in nature, the public garden should ministar to those tastes, and by flowering shrubs captivate his eye for form and colour combined; by delectable flowerß gratify his wish for fragrant odours, and his desire for exquisite figures ; by graceful trees supply him with the largeness and magnificence he requires. And that bis Eense of the picturesque may be gratified let the trees and shrubs be grouped with due regard for colour, form and effect ; that his thirst for knowledge may be satisfied as much as possible, let him know the names of the plants and their homes • and that his pleasure may be complete let the walks be smooth and broad, and the views charming and varied. Christchurch haa been made the pleasant city it is by its trees. Those who had the forming of the city deserve the heartfelt thanks of all who now live in it for rendering it beautiful and healthy. The variegated groups of trees on every side, the restful, peaceful colour of the living green ; one cannot but look round with loving pride at such a sylvan, Englishlooking scene. Our fathers built this up — they planted the trees, they beautified at every point their home ; and now they have passed away, and left us these sweet natural beauties for the days to come., The lover of nature is at home in Christchurch. His thirst for what is beautiful and interesting iB appeased ; and on the river, in the gardens or in the parks he may revel in what delights him. The Domain is worthy of the town, and well performs the mission of a public garden. It ia excellently stocked with striking representatives of most of the genera of flowering shrubs, shade trees and blooming plants; the grouping and arrangement are admirable, and all the conditions of a garden that shall at once captivate and interest, instruct and please, are complied with. Looked over by a man whose soul is in his work, the.gardena are what they should be. Mr Taylor is a practical botanist— a man? of science iindia, man of Bkill^a^4\rec^iißi%V^what;ißi exacted frpm';""a.\gardeia'>^y ■NjjhQae v w.hp ' love the beautifal^has'to the lajrgeWextenti possible made it come up to the necessary standard of excellence. chief improvements to the Domain this year are the making of paths and the opening up of the river views. The' gardens borrow a great deal of their beauty from the Avon with its glorious fringes of willows and the glimpses of its mOBt attractive points caught through spaces left for that purpose, add in no small degree to the pleasure of a walk through the Domain. Several paths have been made with smooth unbroken surfaces, which are a great improvement upon, the gravelled paths. These new walks have been faced with road-sweepings supplied by the City Council — an excellent purpose thus being served by base material. The Council, by its generosity, has enabled the Domain to be greatly improved in this respect, and much of the material has been found to be ol value oa the flower borders. The spring work of pruning h*B well progressed. The work of the ten degrees of frost experienced during the winter is ndticeable, some of the Australian specimens having succumbed to the enemy they had not known before. The rhododendrons are this year blooming in prolific luxuriance, and most of the flowering shrubs show signs of having firmly established themselves. All have made a remarkable improvement under the favourable conditions experienced during the past spring. The lawns look beautiful and are in fine condition. Among a bed of yucca plants and forming quite a feature is a fine specimen of the Fourcrcco, Longceva, which has thrown up a magnificent stem some twenty feet in height and covered with flowers. This plant is said to yield a valuable fibre. Groups of ferns and cabbage trees give character to parts of the gardens, and an "English border" recalls memories of the miniature gardens one used to tend at Home, for there are all the flowers we knew so well and used to watch so anxiouely. The "monkey puzzle" tree finds a prominent place, and has several admirable repr? santatives. A large Californian plant is also noticeable —to wit, the Wellingfconia gigantea, a celebrated timber tiee. The Western Australian corner is well stocked, bub the frost has done sad work with one or two shrubs. The native plants are beautifully grouped, and some fine shrubs indeed are included among them. Then the European corner is full of delights. Shrubs and flowers so well remembered are there, aa also is strange, looking vegetation in vast variety. Japanese plants thriving luxuriantly add to the general interest, and one could spend a day in searching out their beautie3 and discovering their various traits. To most the Domain is one long source of pleasure and interest, and were the plants marked with their names and nations it would be full of instruction. This, it is understood, has been done once, but the labels so valuable to the thinkers proved too .much of a joke for the unthinking, and they changed them from tree to tree, and tore them off and otherwise made away with them until now hardly any remain. In spite of the larrikins, however, the manager has determined to relabel every plant in, the Domain. _, It may be hoped that the Gardens, now bo well established, will flourish and continue to daily delight hundreds, to cause them to appreciate the lovely in Nature and value ft at its true worth. CHEISTCHURCH SHOW. •■ The following id an unsolicited testimonial received from Mr W. Edwards, Sydenham, referring to the Matchless Brand Teas. " What a splendid cup of tea 1 ' was the common expression at the El lea mere and Eangiora Agricultural Shows. I used " Matchless " Brand only, obtained from your firm, and found the tea very economical, and of good flavour. I intend to use the Matchless Brand in the Tea Booth, on Thursday and Friday next, at the Christchurch Show. [Advt.J . A depth of 4655 fathoms was once sounded off the north-east coaat of Japan. And yet you will find that anyone who requires thorough artistic and legitimate photographic •work that in permanent and of the highest order of execiition still patronises C. H. Manning, as his still increasing business testifies. The demand for his own patent process, the bronialine photos, is largely on the increase. Another new exhibit of all classes of work just added at studio, 150, Colombo street. Appointments advisable to avoid detention.— [Advt.J