ONE GREAT GARDEN

Radio Record, Volume VIII, Issue 45, 17 May 1935, Page 56

ONE GREAT GARDEN

Setting Out to Mabe N.Z. a World-Famous Paradise

of Floral Beauty . .

by

J. W.

Matthews

ITH the object of doing its part to forward a worthy scheme of national beautification, the "Radio Record" offers for its readers this article by Mr. J.. W. Matthews, editor-in-chief of the "N.Z. Flower Grower. and Hone Lover," ‘who’ has been well known for years as "The Hoe," of "The Dominion" newspaper. ° His -appeal ‘is directed not so much ‘to- the: Government ‘and local bodies, ‘as to’ "every citizen’ of this potentially glorious ‘Dominion: °

PHOPLH will, and ~~ -"'do,’ travel to' the -‘@nds: of the: earth: to: : gee.:.a- garden, ., for _ Whether. we realise it ' OF not, "the love of ' trees and flowers has

‘been; one.. of ' man’s outstanding; inherent — traits’ since the dawn of history.. Were it

OS " otherwise the whole course of man’s progress might have flowed along a very different channel, but man‘does not’ live by bread alone. yon In ‘England, ‘where’ drastic winters demand- grim determination on’ the part of the gardener, they. appreciate the value of ‘trees. and flowers, and‘one ‘has only..to realise that people-by: the ‘hundred thousand: visit Kew and other famous

gardens. every year to appreciate the — great national assets. that , gardens really are. When. -bulbs ‘are blooming in Holland, visitors flock to Haarlem from all parts of Europe, and "we ‘have it on record that enthisiastic people from England and-America have ‘made the long journey: to"New Zealand just : to inspect our‘ gardens: ‘anid scenic. reserves, -: In our sehools .and colleges little effort is being . made to foster that ‘appreciation of Nature which lies ‘dor mant in every child'!:True’ most schools possess a garden: of. sorts, but until children are made aware of the ‘marvellous ‘manner in. which: Nature -gains © her effects and ensures the perpetuation of species. gardening; instead: of being the most: absorbing, of. occupations, remains a dull form of. drndgery. It must be, obvious. to even the most easual observer that ‘we are really asleep to the: tremendous \ possibilities

which surround, us... .Does-anyone, realise that this Dominion could, in a_matter’of. ten: short years, become the. world’s most wonderful garden?’ i coe . The horticultural possibilities of New Zealand.are wel)nigh illimitable: _ The day, will.come when. throughout the length and breadth. of this séa-girt: land .there ‘Will be end- | less vistas of wooded ‘landscapes ‘such’ as‘ will ‘evoke the admiration’. of- the ;world. : Free from the :vagaries of an austere, climate, conditions: in :this.-Dominion- are: ideal for. tree and shrub-planting. _ In the extreme north those tender exotics that dazzle the eye with'their blaze of colour will grow. with: tropical’ luxuriarice; while in the"south the tall, atately giants find ‘their ‘element, : Throughoujy this whole

' country, swith: its comparatively small: variation: ‘In ‘temperatures, the many beautiful’ plants. of the: teniperate zone . grow to, perfection. New Zealand conditions, therefore, constitute the. plant-lover’s paradise.. | As ‘a’nation is, ‘afterall, but’ reflex’ of ‘the. units which compose’it, our first’ step’ toward the national beautification of New: Zealand ‘lies in ‘inculcating in the Individual / a greater appreciation and. understanding of the oldest and most popular recreation-gardening. . And the quickest: and : simplest way of spreading this hobby until it becomes national in scope is by example. Have-you. ever’ heard of the achievements of ‘that great journalist, Hdward W. Bok? Not as a man of letters, but as a simple. idealist who set out.to make.a section of this ‘earth:a better place to Live in-and ‘succeeded !- ‘In the grass ‘swards.on the streets of ' his little country’ town \. he planted: some 20,000 spring-flowering. bulbs,’ arid -each _ spring there was a procession .of .motor-care which com-

pletély’ disorganised the traffic s system of .the village. ‘Bok .saw that’ ‘the’ souls of'.people were ‘starving for the want of beauty. He extended the idea, and obtained permission to'plant..a row of ornamental trees in. his street. The idea‘ spread, neighbours began to extend the idea, and in a very few years the little town. of Merion became: ‘the. mecca of. flower-lovers. In New Zealand, where. ‘Natare ig sO kind to ‘the gardener, ‘community beautification could be undertaken with very little trouble, and: ‘the result: would prove so amazing that the idea would soon become national in scope: Once the community has become thoroughly garden-conscious, national schemes ,would be. undertaken as a matter of course. In brief, a. planting scheme which would.-in effect, bestow on each district a different type of tree. shrub, or flower,. would make. our high Ways roads of never-ending charm, and apart from the aesthetic value’ of’ such an undertaking, the value of massed

trees, shrubs or vines in preventing slips and ‘eroston, ‘would be hard: to estimate. The. need for a wider appreciation of the pleasures and possibilities of gardening was one of the principal reasons which prompted the .establishment of the, "New Zealand Klower Grower and, Home Lover," the bi-monthly, illustrated magazine which is now on éale throughout the Dominion For many years I have been in close.contact with distinguished overseas horticulturists, community’ planners. and © plant collectors, and their evidence of the amazing developments which are taking place overseas points the way for a great garden campaign in our favoured country,