CAUTION ADVISED

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 36, 5 October 1931, Page 4

CAUTION ADVISED

TREES IN STREETS HORTICULTURIST STRESSES SENSITIVITY OF NATIVE TREES TRANSPLANTING DANGERS In view of the recent controversy which has arisen regarding the suggested planting of Rotorua streets with native trees and the opinions which have been freely expressed in some quarters that native trees are | not suitable for this class of work, j opinions given to a "Post" representative on Saturday by a horticulturist will be of interest. This gentleman expressed the opinion that while enthusiasm for native trees was generally very commendable, there was sometimes a tendency to allow enthusiasm to oyer-ride prac- | tical possibilities in the use of native j flora. It should he remembered, he said, that while New Zealand possessed many beautiful indigenous plants I and trees, our flora, on the whole, was f somewhat sombre in colour and very few of the different tree species, bore really attractive flpwers. The rata, pohutukawa, and hohere were instances of beautiful flowering natives but there were a large number of other - natives in which the flowers were very little apparent. » Very Sensitive It should be horne in mind, tqo, that native trees were as a rule Very sensitive to transplanting, and were somfewhat fastidious regarding soil and site conditions. In some of the southern centres such as Wellington and Dunedin, native trees and shrubs had been used to a considerable extent for street planting but with a variation in results which indicated the necessity for very eareful selecion in the species used. "From what I have seen," stated the "Post's" informant, "there are few if any native trees which will thrive in the main traffic thoroughfares of any town. Dust, smoke, the heat radiating from bitumen and concrete street surfaces, excessive draughts resulting from the concentrafion of wind along road lines, apd uxisuitfible soil conditions are all factors which limit the number of suitable species which can he used for street planting purposes. It is, in my opinion, much wiser to confine the planting. of natives to parks and reserves, or to purely residential areas where the soil and other conditions are more lilcely to he congenial." Transplanting at Whaka Our informant stated that he had inspeeted the experimental planting which is now in progress at the entranqe to Whaka native village and expressed siirprise at the aqtiqn of the atithorities in charge of the planting ,in trying to trahsplant specimens of pittsoporum of the siz'e of those which he saw being used. This was a species which he had found to be particularly resentful of interference with its roots, and he ventured a prophecy that very few of the specimens which have just been planted would survive the transfer. Another objectio.n to the use of this species of tree for street planting was that pittosporum was not a symmetrieal type. It would, he thought, be preferable to grow young plants which could he trained to shape with a minimum of cutting. Pittosporum when cut back, was very susceptible to the attacks of a wood-boring grub which caused the limbs of the trees to die back and often killed the trees outright. With regard - to the planting at present in existence, the opinion was expressed that when the trees planted in a number of the streets had come to full size, they would present a very attractive appearance. The euealypts which had been planted in Whaka Road appeared to be doing well at present and should in the future make an avenue of very fine trees. Many species of euealypts were employed for street planting purposes in California, where they were greatly esteemed for their shade and beauty. In New Zealand, we did not perhaps properly appreciate the majestic beauty of outline which could be attained by an avenue of full-grown trees of this type.