Mr Moody's Nursery,

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 2677, 7 September 1889, Page 6 (Supplement)

Mr Moody's Nursery,

A correspondent writes as follows Doubtless the numerous readers of Tim Waikato Times will be interested to know that in addition to the marked headway which has been made in agriculture in Kihikihi and Orakau and Rangtaoliia, we are not ncglecting the sister science and industry of horticulture or practical botany. Apropos of the latter I wish to direct the attention of your verlarge number of readers all over tli colony, to the good work being done her -by Mr Moody, nurseryman of this placi I visited Mr Moody's nursery lately, an was pleased and surprised to see ho' complete it is, an 3 how varied useful an even rare, are many of the trees, shrubs an. 1 plants, which he has growing there It is a credit to this nursery, and to it spirited and eminently practical ani intelligent owner. Mr Moody is a ma possessed of a large measure of origins talent, and is an expert horticulturist am florist. He has a passion for everythinj connected with his business, and thougl :i modest and unpretentious man, has no only a good knowledge of botany, but ha real enthusiasm for bis art in general, an< the flora of New Zoulsind in particular He is often away for days at a time in thi bush, studying the habitual species .'of i now or rare plant, I saw in the nursery £ beautiful Toi, a member of tho dricinia formerly which Mr Moody had gatherec at Pirongia. There was a very fine specimen of the "Yucca Gloriosa" (an evergreen shrub), and some splendid Japanese Cypresses of different varieties. Of fruit and fruit trees Mr Moody has some fine samples indeed. I particularly admired his peach trees. Of these he has some promising varieties, which are in a very healthy state, and bid fair to yield a fine crop this year. Ho has amongst others tho "Early Rivers," Brigg's and " Red May." The latter comes in a week sooner than " Early River." Ho has other varieties suoh as intermediate and Into, in stock. Mr Moody is quite convinced that we have " turned tho corner in tho matter of the peach blight, and that we shall have a return in great measure to our former position of a plentiful crop, I saw some fine strawberry plants in this nursery of the Duke of Edinburgh and Margiratte kinds. Mr Moody's apple trees look well, and are sure to yield a

handsome return. Of these lie lias a large number of various kinds. The best keeping are the early and late kinds. His gooseberries are an attractive feature of the nursery. lie has an excellent collection of well-grown plum trees. Of three-year-old plants of this fruit he has a large number of different kinds, which do well in Waikato, or indeed anywhere. In this nursery there are some eapital pexr, quinces, and cherry trees of the large English and fruiting kinds. There is a grand show of pear trees, and a great variety of other fruit trees, but I shall not trespass on your space to describe them minutely; stilliee it to say that they arc all of their several kinds really first-class trees. The display of rhododendrons, camellias, daphnes and azaleas is quite a feature in the garden. The conifers are really beautiful and healthy-

pleased with the appearance of the cupresstis, macrocarpa, lawsoniana and pinus insignis, and I noticed a very healthy fence of cuprcsstis macrocarpa. There is not only a line variety of native trees and shrubs, but an admirable stock of ferns and lycopodiums. Altogether it is a garden which is cred. table to its owner, and to an inland town like Kiliikihi, and I feel sure that the people of Waikato generally will be glad to know that we arc making such progress her v. in this beautiful and useful industry, and practical science. To make this fact more w (bly known, and to do justice at the same time to the efforts of a worthy and enterprising settler, who has done so much to enable fanners here not only to shelter their farms, but to stcck and beautify their gardens, has beeu the object of my writing this.