NATURE—AND MAN.

Waikato Times, Volume 114, Issue 19051, 15 September 1933, Page 5

NATURE—AND MAN.

ARDENT DEER-PROTECTORS NATIONAL WELFARE THREATENED (Edited by Leo Fanning.) Well, friends of the native forests and birds, It is again necessary to tell you that sportsmen who dearly like the stalking of deer are fighting hard for a measure of protection of these destructive animals. It has been definitely proved, again and again, that wherever these pests have, a footing in the forests they are a grievous nuisance, but the persons who enjoy firing at these wily targets turn a blind eye to the damage. Knowingly or unwittingly, they are regarding their own pleasure as more Important than the preservation of the national forests, which are necessary for the conservation of the soil—the very earth which gives New Zealand its living. Will this selfish view prevail? Will New Zealanders agree to let stalkers have their way, even if it brings death to the forests and ruination to the lower country? Specious Plea of “ Control.” The word “control” is being shrewdly used by the stalkers. “ Keep the deer under control, and all will be well” is practically their plea. That argument will not stand up to facts. Consider the wild, rugged, broken country in which hundreds of thousands of deer are now strongly established- They can retreat into mountain fastnesses not easily reached by men. Their natural increase is alarmingly large, and they have no enemies such as the fierce fiesh-eaters which .prey on their kin in many other countries. Fiddling with “control” schemes is like playing with fire. They give the deer a good chance to win against New Zealand’'S people. The instinct of self-preservation requires the New Zealand public to declare war against the deer, and keep the war going until the -forests are freed from their destroyers. Beautiful Gymnasts.

Among the many kinds of Australian acacia (of which the sweet-scented wattle is one) Is the tree known as the “bottle-brush,” a name inspired by the big greenish-yellow sprays of bloom, which 10-ok like beautiful brushes. It is a quick-growing tree, with a hand'some habit in all seasons of the year, particularly In the flowering period of spring. The other day, when I was passing a clump of these trees in Wellington, I saw scores of white-eyes playing merry-go-round oii ' the brushes in their quest of the honeyed juice known as nectar. What a delightful display of acrobatics it was! The quickly-moving olive-green jackets and russet vests of the birds mingled very pleasantly with the bright colour of the brushes. The silver circles around the fossickers’ eyes suggested a thought that they were wearing white-rimmed spectacles to help them in their search for food. Suddenly one of the ‘honeyeaters paused. Its attention 'had been caught by a withered twig. “Ah!” thought Mr Waxeye, “here is something solid after the dainty appetiser of the nectar. I know what is worrying that twig.” Quickly a sharp little beak did some probing, and the caterpillar tribe suffered a casualty. The bird looked about for similar-trouble twigs, and other 'caterpillars had sudden death. A Favourable Balance. We are all trying to have that comforting state of affairs known as a (Continued In next column.)

“favourable balance." We have certain things plus ancl others minus—and when we have more plus than minus we are able to brighten the days of the butcher, the baker and the candle-stick maker. Well, the popular white-eye is said to have faults as well as virtues —and in the view of some orchardists the bad overbalances tlie good. But have those orchardists worked out the balance correctly? I have just read a well-reasoned article on the white-eye, written by Dr. Myers for the New Zealand Journal of Agriculture. It can be taken for granted that an official publication of the Department of Agriculture will not lend Itself to the broadcasting of error. Dr. Myers strikes a favourable balance for the white-eye. “It is no exaggeration,” he states, “to say that nearly every maior Insect pest of the New Zealand orchard is in one stage or another of its existence searched out and eaten by the parties of white-eyes which subject every tree, every twig, and every crevice to the strictest surveillance. There can be no question that the value of the services rendered by the white-eye in the orchard alone in destroying insect pests throughout the year more than counterbalance the depredations committed during the ripefruit season.” Help the Tuts to Live.

A recent article mentioned how the tui and other native birds helped in the pollination of certain native trees. Tuis and bell-birds do similar service for many species of Australian eucalypts (popularly known as gum-■tre-es), which are rich in nectar. Alas, when some tuis have mustered for this feast they have fallen into the hands of pitiless pot-hunters. “It appears,” ■remarks Dr. Myers, “that the persecution of the tui is not confined to.the bush itself, but that even those which venture to visit the gum .plantations in settled areas are in some districts shot for gastronomic purposes by Maoris. The decay of tapu and the spread of firearms have, generally speaking, turned the Maori into a serious enemy of all the forest-birds which are large enough for food.” How sad It is that so many of the modern Maoris lack the -common-sense and sentiment of their ancestors! Will a day come again when powerful chiefs will he able to influence their folk against vandalism? Meanwhile every possible effort should be made to detect slayers of “protected” native birds and inflict a proper punishment on them. Function of the Fuchsia-tree. Has any other country as large a fuchsia-tree as New Zealand’s? No doubt, an average person' would not think that this pleasant tree lias any useful function in tlie forest except the food Hint, it yields for tuis and bellbirds with its nectar and berries. However, (he fuchsia, in co-operation with oilier small trees “plays an important part in the regeneration of the New Zealand forests,” says Dr. Myers. “ II •stabilises 1 the lower slopes, often stoney and clayey, of many valleys which otherwise would suffer from erosion, and by affording shelter to ferns and other small plants helps to form a seed-bed for the young plants of many timber-trees.”