106 DISCUSSION. 



Of this State and of the Federal territory when public opinion is 

 so educated that the value of a gardener is properly appraised. 

 Much useful work can be done by the garden-labourer or the 

 navvy, under skilled supervision, but the technical skill of the 

 gardener must be employed for planting and its attendant opera- 

 tions, for pruning (some people think that fruit-trees alone require 

 to be pruned), for prevention of disease and for the application of 

 sprays and other technical methods for the arrest of disease. These 

 may seem details, but they are essential, and I invite attention to 

 them with all the earnestness of which I am capable. 



The prospect of noble avenues of trees in the Federal City is 

 very pleasing, and I trust that nothing will prevent their extensive 

 adoption. As compared with the results, the expenditure is cer- 

 tainly most justifiable. The value of the avenue, whether along 

 streets, along approaches to buildings or as promenades in parks, 

 has been but little realized in Australia, although common encugh 

 in Europe. And let me enunciate an axiom "One avenue one 

 kind of tree." The finest avenues in the world consist of one kind 

 of tree, as by that means uniformity of growth and general appear- 

 ance, which gives the main charm to an avenue, can be alone 

 secured. The pernicious misplaced hankering after variety which 

 causes so many avenues to be spoiled because they are of two or 

 more kinds of trees is responsible for the disreputable appearance 

 of so many avenues and boulevards. Such remind one irresistibly 

 of the " awkward squad." 



I would extensively plant fruit-trees (which might be the 

 property of the hospital) along the boulevards, and then the eye 

 would be delighted with the prospect of a magnificent display of 

 blossom in the spring. In the fruit season the public could be 

 educated to respect the crop ; this has been done in France. If 

 the work were properly done it should be at least self-supporting. 



Then clumps of trees and shelter belts from the west and south, 

 should be extensively planted, or, if they are there already, very 

 stringent regulations should be adopted in regard to the felling of 

 trees by irresponsible persons. 



