GALLIPOLI.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXV, Issue 4666, 25 February 1924, Page 4

GALLIPOLI.

NEW ZEALAND SEEDLINGS FAIL. EXPERIMENTS TO BE RENEWED. Some time ago the Hon. Sir Frederick Chapman sent through the High Commissioner ol New Zealand in London some seeds of native plants New Zealand for propagation abroiSt with the object of planting out seedlings in the cemeteries of Europe and the Near East where New Zealand soldiers are buried. Amongst the seeds forwarded were some of a species of manuka. According to a report received by the Minister of Internal Affairs (the Hon. R. F. Bollard) from the High Commissioner, 700 plants were raised from the seeds. These seedlings flourished at Gallipoli until they were three inches high, when they unfortunately died. An extract from the High Commissioners report states: “Inquiries were made by the Imperial War Graves Commission of Mr Draper, of the Government Gardens, Delta Brarage, as to the success of some New Zealand seeds which were .sent to him by Judge Chapman in 1916. He stated in reply that the only plant that flourished at all well was the Pittisporuin, and, further, was of the opinion that it would 1 be of little use to send plants raised from seed in Egypt to Gallipoli, Palestine, and Syria, but that nurseries on the spot would be the very .best way of ascertaining what would be the most suitable varieties.

“Mr Draper at a later date advised that the prospect of success for alien plants where native ones are scanty and absent is vague, and also pointed out the need of wells, etc., lor a water supply, at any rate, for the first year or so in a dry climate.

“Judge Chapman is interested in a species of manuka which’ he has named ‘Leppstcrnum Gallipoli,’ which conies from Pelorus Sound, and seeds of this were sent to Egypt, Gallipoli, and Palestine in November, 1922. Reports from Gallipoli in June of this year (1923) state' that the seed has germinated well, and that 700 young seedlings in the nurseries were doingwell. ■ Unfortunately, according to a later report (October 11, 1923) these died eff when 3in high owing to climatic conditions and unsuitable soil. The report adds: ‘The Lepostermim requires a more or les,s sheltered position, which.is not possible here, and thrives in a compost of loam, peat, and sand. Soil here is a very close sandy clay. Loam and peat cannot be found in the Peninsula.’ “The Palestine seed failed altogether to germinate, but further con-, signments of seeds have been sent out, and trials will be renewed.” If. is hoped that .succses will be achieved with the further experiments tp be made.