The Times. Published on Tuesday and Friday Afternoons. TUESDAY, MARCH 15, 1921. WEALTH IN NEW PLANTS.

Franklin Times, Volume 9, Issue 616, 15 March 1921, Page 4

The Times. Published on Tuesday and Friday Afternoons.

TUESDAY, MARCH 15, 1921. WEALTH IN NEW PLANTS.

At the last meeting of the Council of the Auckland Acclimatisation Society, an interesting proposal was made by Mr. J. W. Poynton,, S.M., and Mr. F. C. Rollett. It was to the effect that the Society should add to its activities the importation and cultivation of trees and plants which, if successfully acclimatised in New Zealand would be of use and a source of wealth to the community. Mr Poynton, who is an enthusiast upon the subject, particularly on the introduction of useful fodder plants, and who has for several years past spent a good deal of time and money in obtaining and distributing plants and seeds likely to prove of use, was able to give some illustrations showing where wealth had followed the establishment of foreign plants. Notable examples * were the Russian oak in Canada and the Egyptian cotton plant in the southern United States. He might have added still more remarkable instances--the establishment of the rubber tree in half a dozen places, and the sugar cane in as many more. We are entirely in favour of the suggestions made and hope they will he prosecuted to i successful issue, always provided that the greatest care is taken that nothing shall be introduced likely t<>prove a menace to agriculture. Perhaps, however, in this regard th? serious early mistakes of the Society in introducing such expensive’’posts as the Californian quail and the blackbird, to say nothing of the London sparrow, may have the effect of :nas-

ing for extra caution on their part. We doubt also if, unaided, the funds of the Society will allow of anything very extensive in the suggested direction being accomplished. We think they should seek allies in the various Agricultural and Pastoral Societies of tire Auckland Province, which might be persuaded to donate some portion of their funds to a project in which their, members are vitally interested. This would have the double effect of not only providing sufficient financial support, but of enlisting the co-oper-ation of practical farmers, who would be able to advise as to what plants should be imported and which sternly denied a footing.

“We nothing extenuate, nor aught set down in malice.”