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Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20483, 8 December 1934, Page 17

Christchurch Receives Gift F rom Kew Gardens.

Information* that gift cuttings of willows had arrived from Kew in perfect condition # was placed before yesterday afternoon’s meeting of the Christchurch Domains Board by the curator (Mr J. A. M'Pherson). "Last I month 1 took advantage of the return | of Mr J. Mackenzie, of Wellington, who | has been studying at the Royal Botanic j Gardens, Kew, to cable the director. Sir Arthur W. Hill, asking for speci- ! mens of willows, explaining that the | species in New Zealand were difficult of identification on account of lack of authentic specimens,” stated Mr M’Pherson. “Sir Arthur very kindly ordered sixty-nine species to be packed and sent out in the vegetable chamber | of the Ruahine, under the care of Mr : Mackenzie, who returned by the same ; boat. The cuttings arrived in perfect j condition, many rooting into the pack- ! ing moss during the voyage. These have now been planted in the proI pagating frames and are already xnakI ing excellent growth. The Christchurch Botanic gardens will now be in a position to name correctly many specimens, and will in the near future be able to distribute them to other public gardens. More of this type of work is urgently needed in New Zealand and our warmest thanks are due I to Sir Arthur Hill and the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, for such valuable assistance."