A TREE SURGEON

Hokitika Guardian, 14 February 1928, Page 3

A TREE SURGEON

VISITOR FROM AMERICA. C'H R.fSTCHCRCH, Feb. 10. “Christchurch is one of the most interesting and beautiful small cities I bare seen. This is on account'of your excellent system of parks and the very healthy and vigorous condition of the foliage of native and exotic trees. I have never seen trees, on the whole, in such a state of vigour,” This tribute to Christchurch is from a tree-surgeon, who has travelled the world. He is Mr James A. 0. Davey, vice-president of the Davey Tree Expert Company of New York, which is cultivating the science of the surgical care of sick and injured trees. It conducts a school for this purpose with 310 young students. Mr Davey sees no prospect of sending any of these experts to New Zealand, hut he has seen in botanical gardens in the Dominion trees of great value which are weak structurally and which need the attention of a trained surgeon, and he would he pleased if a young New Zealander went to the United States to learn the science and returned equipped with the knowledge that will save many trees. Although the school is not open to the general public, Mr Davey is convinced that an opportunity will be made there for a young New Zealander to learn the science to which he has devoted himself. With one or two exceptions, he has seen no serious tree-posts in New Zealand. He describes New Zealand as being remarkably free from them, compared with America. He finds that there is absolutely no comparison between New York State and New Zealand in this respect. Trees in America have so many pests and diseases that in some of the larger States it is difficult to get the trees to grow. The kauri and the pohutukawa, or Christmas tree of the North Island, largely brought Mr Dnvey to New Zealand. He had heard a great deal about them, and he decided to come and see them. All he had- heard of the pohutlikawa’s glorious flower was far below the sight that delighted him. He believes that the pohutukawa is the world’s most artistic tree, not only because of its brilliant scarlet flowers, lint also because of its habit of growth, and its faculty for choosing an artistic setting. He is not collecting plants, but he has taken hundreds of photographs of trees and the poliutnkawa is prominent amongst them. He is convinced that the pohutukawa and other natives should he more featured in Dominion publications and in other national advertising efforts. In addition, he is surprised that the pohutukawa is not better advertised locally. Failing to find pictures of it, he took at least 100 photographs of specimens. He is impressed with the progress of forestry in New Zealand. He urges further development, especially with a view to supplying timber to foreign markets. He is doubtful if. in ten or fifteen years. New Zealand will lie able to buy any timber from flic United ' States. There will h" •• severe shortage there, he prod.'<■'«. and if New 1 Zealand has timber Inr sale, n ready ' market for it. probably will fie found ' in America. *