DESTRUCTION OF TREE FERNS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 604, 6 September 1909, Page 4

DESTRUCTION OF TREE FERNS.

I'Slt.'i-'llhe^Mtei , : entitled'''Sfiiinohs in Ferns, , ", published ; in-Saturday's , DojtiKidxi' again;'raises'the important qnes-. ! tionhow besttoiprcsorvo the! magnificent: and. ■ Stately: arboreal .ferns from vandalism and As.- ' tinction-. in' certain districts, especially 'in-.the /v.icinity. r 6f cities, and towns, where 'every, plant. of "these, nbbltf , ferns :.Bhould ,be rigidly;', pre-serV«l.-,.-I'iT«(--ycars,:;ago,-your; contehipcirar.y, tho.r''Ev«ningil!o'st,":'raiJeu-a vigorous protest, 'against: their ivantonidestructibh by using them, for decorating halls and.churches during functions' and fcstiyals.V , Since' the 'days. of Codk a first visit'to Qiieen Charlotte- Sound, this.beau-tiiul^countfyv-has; been- noted < for. Us. great tfealtli of: beautiful "ferns/- notably",thV stately 'tree-ferns-that/impart 'such' beaiity and clittrin' to er'een.ery of the native' forests.' rbn'.the slow, growth■ arid groat age ■.of,: some , of the,- indigenous fepe-' ' oib'»''df tree-ferns', arid nikau palms—which! aro alsoi 'frequently'.used;■ for-'decbratiyo, purposes^-; frevenn ■ ;regret to ■ see; them'.- thus-, .waritohlyldestroycd:- Sdonor-. or later legislation ■ !will. be required' to .prevent • the -ilc-.: ; struetidn' of; these stately., and '.graceful 'plants,-' especially- those growing, on 'lands and; in.-val-' leys unsuitable :and "grazing purEOses., jon| .twenty-.years I have strenuously advocated, the strict-preservation; of ov'ery Jves'tige'of ■na'five biish",V.where gtaoticable,' and,-its , , charming- andf-'.unique ■'■ H nativo birds.'fiNow that the anqmalouahilia, the'ouri. , bji'3 .saddleback, ond'.other 'remaykablo species. ; ar<r;'ajm'ost• Ostihc,t,',tlie Gpreriiinbnt- is spend-; ing''(»ri3iUerablo sunis; of : inbney ■) cndeavo^ririEitp v jppo!3ur , e' r iqf : tKo 'huiaf-stt' famous'iri"Maofi"histpry'.a'nd..song,'but,-up-to the-present i'tinie.'i without success.:. The', , prescf-, | vation' of' , , thp. , moreistriking specics-.of -nativo pjaritsjand.the.lirevcntion'foKtheir.uso for-hall, and ohurch "decoratibns" should "be: earnestly; cohsidcroi;:by.-.bcanti.fying'. societies, who ;-Un-. nuestiopably;poul'd,,di; "good; servico': ; by'; their intervention.—l' am.'ictC/iv ; '' V-' -." .-. l; ; >; August'23, : )M,;.:!!y'- :^} \}~