TREE-PLANTING.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1757, 23 May 1913, Page 3

TREE-PLANTING.

NURSERYMEN'S ADVICE,

TO RESERVES COMMITTEE. Tho Reserves Committee of tho City Council was waited upon yesterday afternoon by Messrs. F. Cooper and 11. C. Gibbons, both well-known Wellington nurserymen and horticulturists, in regard to tho proposed planting of the Town Belt. Mr. F. Cooper read a memorandum ho had drafted, in tho course of which he pointed out that tree-planting in Wellington, particularly in exposeii parts, was a work to be gono about very caroiully, owing to tho trying weather experienced here. There wero trees whicn would flourish in even a colder climate than that of Wellington, but which could not contend with the high winds, especially on exposed blocks. Instead of planting the sholter-trees and others practically at tho same time, he advocated, as ono who had been born and brought up in tho nursery business in Wellington, that each block of land proposed to be planted should in the hrst instance bo planted with pines and hardy natives, in such a maoner that would give shelter to more delicato trees. The pines he referred to were pinus muricata, and pinus insignis. In referring to tho less hardy trees that could be planted, he pointed out that trees native to the district had the best chance' of flourishing—a much bettor chance, for example, than those imported from a warmer climate—anu there were others which experience had proved would grow readily under favourable conditions. In the list of these wero mentioned coprosmas, pohutakawas, olearias, senecios, veronicas, ngaios, karakas, pitostrums, cressifoliums, grisilinas (broadleaved), escallouias, and elaeagnus. Finally, Mr. Cooper made tho point that in planting trees the ground must be prepared beforehand, and reasonable attention must be given to them for somo months afterwards. It would be better to plant fewer trees, and be sure of being able to look after them, than to plant a large number without that assurance. ■ Mr. H. C. Gibbons said he was prepared to endorse a good deal of what Mr. Cooper had had to say, though he could extend the list of trees Mr. Cooper had enumerated. He emphasised tho wisdom of eelecting native trees, rather than those from a warmer climate. He had had twenty-five years' experience in nursery work in Wellington, and would only bo too glad to give advice at any time. The chairman (Councillor G. Frost) said that the planting in tho past had not ■yielded the best results. Councillor Barber: "It s the kind of trees you've planted!" Mr. Gibbons said that reasonable attention must bo given to tho preparation of the ground, and afterwards to cultivation. Eacli. tree should be kept clear of weeds for fit least two 'feet round. If weeds were allowed to grow close up, and there were light showers of rain, the soil did not get any benefit at all. It was better to plant. 1000 trees and look after them, than 10,000, and not do so. The deputation was heartily thanked tor attending. '