THE BAY OF PLENTY TIMES. SATURDAY, JUNE 13, 1874.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume II, Issue 185, 13 June 1874, Page 2

THE BAY OF PLENTY TIMES.

SATURDAY, JUNE 13, 1874.

" The spirit of the times shall teach me speed." Kls*o JOHN, ACT IV.

It is now over sis months ago since the Honorable Donald McLean, set apart a valuable portion of the township of Taurauga as a recreation ground or public park. Apparently, nothing has been done, and probably less thought < upon the subject since the time we notified the granting of the reserve. "We are glad, however, to learn from a private source, that our representative in the Provincial Council is alive to our interests,’ and is putting forward In's influence to induce the Provincial Government to grant us aid for planting trees and shrubs in

“TaurangaPark.” That the Provincial Executive are impressed with the importance of planting trees is apparent from the fact that a sum of £750 has been placed upon the estimates for “ the encouragement of forest planting by Highway Boards ; and although it is not probable that this sum will be voted by the Council, there is every reason to believe that a small amount will be granted for planting the Taurauga Becreatiou Ground. Trees adorn the landscape, fertilize the soil attract the rain, afford a grateful shade* and purify the air. Should Captain Morris be successful with his application, it would be desirable to supplement whatever aid the Council may grant, and, as this is the jiroper season of the year, to set about in right good earnest to adorn the ground. We hope before long to see such trees as “ pinus insignis” and “ Wellingtonia gigantea” planted. “Pine seeds” says a contemporary, when transplanted from a distance, are difficult to grow ; and the young plants very much object to be transplanted. To succeed, the seeds should be sown where they are intended to remain, and should be put but a very small distance under ground. We succeed best by sowing the seeds in pots and placing the pots in a cool frame, The practice observed by nurserymen is to cut a piece of old canvas, fill it with leaf mould and tie it up slackly like a puddingy The seed is planted in the centre of the tied part, and the whole is placed in a garden pot and just covered with earth. As soon as the plauts-.are of sufficient strength they are carefully transplanted without breaking the pudding cloth or disturbing the young roots.” the puriri is a handsome and hardy native tree: young plants are easily obtainable, and berries abundant ; but native trees, as a rule, cannot be successfully planted, and we must therefore look to California, Australia, and dear old England for a supply. How pleasant in our public promenades to— See the trees unnumbered rise, Beautiful, in various dyes ; The glowing pine, the poplar blue. The yellow beech, the sombre yew, The slender fir, that taper grows, The sturdy oak, with broad spread boughs. It is high time that Public Trustees of the Park were appointed. jVIr McjLean is expected to return from Australia in a few days, and we would urge upon the public the necessity of moving in. this matter, and communicating with that gentleman immediately upon his arrival. It the more necessary that no delay should be allowed to take place just now, because Parliament will shortly bo in session, and Mr McEean’s time will then be too fully occupied to give attention to a matter which, although of great importance to the people of Tauranga, would naturally have to give way before weightier affairs of colonial interest.