The Australasian Sat 10 July 1879 THE CASTLEMAINE GARDENS. In no other place in the colony can be found so many really handsome specimens and such a fine collection of members of the true pine family as are to be found in the public gardens of Castlemaine. Mr. P.Doran, an old Chatsworth man, laid out and planted this reserve in 1864, and from that time to the present has watched the tiny seedlings of a few inches high, and growing in pots 4in. across, develop into magnificent trees, some of which are now approaching 100ft. in height, A few of the trees were planted in 1862, but the threat majority were planted in 1864 and succeeding years. Both.soil and situation seem to be eminently adapted for pine growth, for there are trees here higher than they usually attain in their native habitat. No disease of any kind has attacked these pines : they are remarkably healthy, and in striking contrast to trees found in many other places in Victoria. A record of the progress made by these pines will be interesting to many. The heights given are only approximate, the eye only having been used in measuring them: Pinus Benthamiana, 70ft.; Canadensis, 60lt.;excelsa, 60ft.; Gerardiana, 40ft.; halepenais,70ft.; insignia, 90ft.; inops, 30fr.; iaricio,70ft.; longifolia, 60ft.; Lamberiiana, 30ft.;mitiB, 30ft.; muricata, 70ft.; pinea, 45ft.;ponderosa, 50ft.; Sabiniana, 75ft.: strobus,40ft.; rijjidus, 30ft.; Toe la, 30ft.; and Torreyana, 50ft. in height. Of some of these kinds there are several specimens of the Italian stone pine (P. pinea) there is a row of splendid trees fully 45ft. high. The Californian redwood (Taxodium sempervirens) is one of our handsomest conifers.Here is a group of fine specimens which were raised from cuttings, ranging up to 50ft high, and looking as it they would in time rival those enormous trees found in Upper California, some of which are 300ft. in height, and with a stem measurement at 6ft.from the ground of 55ft. in circumference.There is a slab of this wood at St. Petersburg which measures 15ft. in diameter, and containing 1,008 annual rings. ., - .An allied tree allied to the taxodium is the Wellingtonia gigantea. Although trees in these gardens -attained; a. considerable height, they are showing symptoms off decay.They are growing near some large pines And appear not to have sufficient feeding being an illustration of the survival of the fittest.The pine is the tree for its environment. The stately Himalayan cypress (Cupreesus itorulosa) is nearly 50tt. in height. In its native country it attains an altitude of 150 t., with a stem as straight as an arrow; its wood is fragrant and extremely durable. C. glauca is quite distinct, the pendulous variety of it makes a lovely lawn specimen. The true ,willow pattern of the Chinese is represented by a small tree of the funereal cypress. A 50ft. high specimen of the silver cedar !(Cedrug Atlantica) may, only for its beautiful silvery glaucous appearance, be mistaken for a cedar of Lebanon. The latter tree grows slowly and is less handsome than its congener. Junipers are well represented, Attica, |Virginiana, excelsa, and macrocarpa being the finest. The Jarrah is thriving as well as it does in the forests of Western Australia. Those who doubt the suitability of our climate for the growth of the cork oak may be convinced to the contrary by seeing a fine specimen, 40ft.in height, from which some of the cork has been stripped. There really is no reason why this valuable tree should not be largely planted in suitable soils and climate. Unfortunately our people want quicker returns than it affords, but a valuable heritage would be handed down to ones posterity in the shape of a few thousand acres of Quercus suber. The live oak of America IQ virens) is doing well here, and so is the Turkey oak; and alsoQ. lanata, a tree with leaves quite silvery underneath,a distinct speciesand a fastgrower.The Ilex oak of the Mediterranean littoral is about 30ft. high. From a commercial point of view, the Valonia oak (Q. asgiiops) is the most valuable. Here is a tree imported from Smyrna by Mr. Cunnack, a local gentleman engaged in the tanning industry, and who knows well the worth of this, with us, very rare tree. Mr. Doran has discarded the common English oak for street-plantings in favour of the Luaitanian species (Q. Lusi tunica). He says it makes a handsomer tree and resists drought better. The blue gums which were planted in the streets some while ago have had to be replaced. Their average life is under 30 years,and while pollarding tends to prolong theirlife and for a time makes them umbrageous,they soon succumb to the borer and die out. A feature of these gardens is the fine specimens of weeping elms Good straight stems they have, lO or 12ft. in height, surmounted by large heads of pendulous branches. Visitors to Castlemaine in the month of May are charmed with the lovely autumn tints of the poplars, willows, rhus, and other deciduous trees which flourish in these gardens. Melbourne nurserymen would give almost anything for a few score loads of the rotting leaves, which 6in. deep may be found underneath some of the oaks and poplars. In good leaf-mould the majority of plants flourish. The value of Marrem grass is being appreciated even here. 70 miles from theseaboard. A quantity obtained from Warrnambool is being planted for binding the banks at Forest Creek.Castlemaine cannot be parted from without a word being said about the Oriental planes in one of her principal streets, which in summer time are truly beautiful. Street tree-planting ia always progressing. At this moment there are 3,600trees, all planted by the present curator.The Botanic-gardens are 78 acres in extent,but only about 20 acres are in cultivation.No large space is devoted to flower culture,trees being the first in importance. Considering the -very small amount of labour employed, Mr. Doran may be congratulated on the trim appearance of the gardens.
Posted on: Sun, 29 Jun 2014 23:32:57 +0000
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