N.Z. ALPINE AND ROCK GARDEN SOCIETY.

Hutt News, Volume 2, Issue 50, 22 May 1930, Page 7

N.Z. ALPINE AND ROCK GARDEN SOCIETY.

Mr. William Martin, of Blenheim delivered a most interesting lecture to the executive of N.Z. Alpine and Bock Garden Society on Wednesday evening of last week.

Mr. Martin explained tiat lie was mainly interested in the scientific, rather than the aesthetic side of the stuidj* of aJpines and it was on these lines that the lecturer spoke. Mr. Martin explained that-he had made a special study otf the laws of distribution and gave most interesting examples <to' stow that our alpine plant life is governed by very definite laws-. WMLst the rat a has arrived from the north the mountain vegetation -has arrived from the south. The North. Island possessed 29 plants which were not in the South and the Soiafrh 400 whidb were not known in the North. The lecturer explained that by drawing parallel lines with a radius of 100 miles fnom North, to South of Neiw Zealand

•he was able to say positively what varieties of plants/would be found in a defined ■ area. It was found that plants spread from their native habitat within thesie defined limits • and descreased in numbers as they travelled. AlUhough. they may be found-Over different locals ties they -would only be-in definite types of 'land. I It was explained !how certain varieties/wiuch are generally considered to be difficult to grow on the low lands may be successfully cultivated by carefully noting" their native habitat and creating: similar, conditions for them in the- garden. .• It was explained that (whilst |the native alpinea eio'ntain'eldr many beautifiul colours there were no reds amongst them. Tie ■ lecturer gave his Ofwn thieory ■ for t-his phenomenon which he thougiht migiit be governed by -fehe solar spectrum, but it was purely" his own idea and may be entirely wrong Most useful hints were given to collectors showing h'oiw t-hey could visit :tihie various types of. eotaiitry in a given area and thus obtain much better results. '

A number of photographs of alpines growing, and a description, of their varied habits brought a most instructive' lecture to a close.