PROBLEMS OF PARKS AND GARDENS ARE UNDER DISCUSSION.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18547, 22 August 1928, Page 4

PROBLEMS OF PARKS AND GARDENS ARE UNDER DISCUSSION.

SPEAKERS TELL OF VALUABLE WORK.

The annual conference of the Ncav Zealand Association of Gardens, Parks and ReserA-es Superintendents Avas commenced in the Christchurch City Council Chambers yesterday, the president, Mr D. Tannock (Dunedin) in the chair. The following delegates were present: Messrs James Young (Christchurch), J. M'Kenzie (Wellington), M. M. O’Brien (Wairhate), T. W. Adams (Hastings), C. W. Corner (Napier), J. M’Pherson (InA-ercargill), D. M. Harper (Timaru), W. Smith (Petone), W. Wilson (Tai Tapu), J. M’Donald (Temuka), 11. Hollingsworth (Dunedin), and W. Barnett (Oamaru). PUBLIC AND BOTANIC GARDENS. The retiring president in his address to the conference, said that the public and botanic gardens in New Zealand could be diA-ided into three sections. (1) Those devoted to the cultivation of decorative plants, trees and shrubs and also to maintaining as extensive a collection as possible, arranged in some botanical order; (2) those deAOted almost entirely to decorative plants and (3) those which combine the functions of a garden, recreation ground and playground. In the larger centres it Avas possible to maintain a more or less true botanic garden and in it an attempt should be made to grow as extensive and representath-e a collection of the Aegetation of the world as possible. A garden deA’Oted entirely to botanical species Avould be of little interest to the general public, and it Avas absolutely necessary to set aside a portion for the cultivation of plants of horticultural A-alue. There should be a rose garden in which -the A'arious types and A'arieties of the queen of flowers were cultivated, and special beds and borders for carnations, sweet peas, lilies, narcissi, iris, dahlias, gladioli, chrysanthemums, michaelmas daisies and the various flowering trees find shrubs, hard3 r and half hardy annuals. Bright displays of colour were necessary in New Zealand gardens where we* have so much green. We all liked colour; we all admired it and we all desired it. A botanic garden should be a centre for the reception and distribution of plants and seeds of botanical and horticultural and economic value, a training school for young gardeners, and a centre for the "distribution of horticultural and botanical information, said the speaker. A small herbarium of native ty’pes, a museum of economic products of plants and a horticultural and botanical library would increase the interest and usefulness of a botanic garden. “The early* settlers wisely set aside areas for gardens and recreation and these are being developed as rapidly as means will permit; the interest in horticulture is a characteristic of New Zealanders, and it is fortunate that there is ample opportunities for the development of both public and private gardens,” Mr TannOck said. "A modern city is not made up of buildings, streets, footpaths, lights, drains, water pipes and tram lines. There must be some of the amenities of life and the provision of gardens, parks, recreation grounds and playgrounds is a legitimate branch of municipal enterprise. It is a distinct 'adv-antage for those who control these public utilities to meet together occasionally to discuss methods of maintenance and 1 managements and to exchange ideas. The annual conference of park superintendents provides this opportunity.” ELECTION OF OFFICERS. The election of officers for the ensuing year resulted as follows:—President; Mr James Young (Christchurch); vice-president, Mr J. M’Kenzie (Wei lington); secretary’, Mr D. Tannock (Dunedin). A number of papers on matters of interest to those entrusted with the care of parks, gardens and reserves were read to the conference. Mr James Young dealt with horticultural machinery’, Mr C. W. Corner with seaside planting, Mr J. M'Kenzie with recreation grounds and Mr Tannock with horticultural education. The reading of each • paper was followed by a discusMr Young took the chair during the afternoon and evening sessions. CHILDREN’S PLAY AREAS. The importance of making adequate provision for children s play areas in public gardens was stressed in a paper read by Mr D. M. Harper (Timaru) at the evening session. Mr Harper said that there was an ever-increasing need for facilities of this nature, and it was most important that the swings and merry-go-rounds, etc., should be made of good material and constructed in the correct way. Mr Corner said that boat-swings had been installed at Napier, and three accidents had occurred in three days. In his opinion such swings were dangerous, and they had been dismantled at Napier. Mr Young said that there had been no accidents in the children’s playing area at the Christchurch Gardens. The question of liability in the event of accidents was discussed by the conference, the opinion being expressed that the controlling body would be held responsible if accidents occurred as a result of breakages in the equipment.

GREENHOUSE GARDENING. Mr W. Barnett (Oamaru) read a paper on greenhouse gardening. It had been asserted by some, he said, that the day of the greenhouse, the large conservatory’, was OA-er, it being argued that the cost of maintenance was too great. It was true that in some of the big* private establishments in the- Old Country the cost 6f maintaining large ranges of glasshouses ■ had had to be curtailed, but a perusal of any gardening periodical would indicate that the interest in gardening under glass had not diminished. The hybridist was still, endeavouring to improve the various strains of greenhouse plants, seedsmen and plant merchants still made a special feature of such subjects, and the orchid was more widely grown than ever. No one would deny that the greenhouse was an important attraction in all public gardens; in fact, one would not be wrong in stating that in the larger cities it was a necessity. The av'erage citizen could not afford the luxury of a greenhouse, but looked to the public gardens to provide him with such a place wherein he could go when he felt inclined, and admire those plants and flowers which he did not meet with in the everyday walk of life. The speaker dealt with the class'of plants and flowers, grown in greenhouses and the questions of heating and propagation. MUNICIPAL FORESTRY. Mr T. \V. Adams (Hastings) spoke on the question of municipal afforestation, and referred to the planting operations being carried out in various parts of the Dominion. He expressed the opinion that local bodies should be encouraged to carry out afforestation schemes. An interesting discussion followed.

lion of the Christchurch Botanic Gardens this morning, commencing at 9.30 o’clock, and the conference will resume