NATIONAL BOTANIC GARDEN

Hokitika Guardian, 5 November 1927, Page 1

NATIONAL BOTANIC GARDEN

FORAIELATING A SCHEME.

WELLINGTON. Nov. 3.

A National Botanic Barden for the Dominion is a proposal which the New Zealand Institute of Hoticulture is now considering. The proposal was first made at a small meeting of members of the Institute held in Dunedin during the Dunedin and South Seas Exhibition, but tn that form was merely that such a garden should be established in Dunedin itself. It soon became apparent that such a proposal was not likely to meet with favour from the rest of the Dominion, and now the Institute has formed a Botanic Garden Committee fo collect information as to what the line of action in forming a National Garden should he. The first step was to request the formation of loral committees in each of the four centres, but it is understood that, so far. Auckland is the only city which has responded effectively. Two courses are felt to lie open to the Institute, to choose a spot considered suitable for the creation of a garden, or to allow each ol the four centres to follow its particular bent. The latter is tlie proposal which is gaining support. Certain localities lend themselves better to the growth of seme kinds of plants than others, and it "is felt that the Institute might set- out for itself to develop plants to form sections of tlie National Garden, or have at its command a sum of money which it might vote to the municipalities for them to carry out the work. This development would naturally lie superintended by tile Institute, which would construct the whole scheme. Academically, the National Gordon should bo in one centre, actually It is felt that 1 lie plants should be grown in the spots best suited to them. The claims of the smaller cities have not been overlooked and sufficient information is expected before long to enable a comprehensive scheme to bo framed. Meantime, it Is recognised that as the Government will have to he approached for the money _to commence the development work, its opinion as to the location of the Garden will have to he considered.