THE FRIENDS OF TREBORTH
BOTANIC GARDEN
CYFEILLION GARDD FOTANEG
TREBORTH
NEWSLETTER
CYLCHLYTHYR
Number/Rhif 5
May/Mai 1999
EDITORS BIT
Sometimes it's impossible to stop yourself. You nip to your local garden centre or
nursery intending to buy some slug pellets, a few more pots, or just a bit of fertiliser,
and there you see it. For years you have dreamt of owning this plant (at least, that is
what you convince yourself). How could you not want it – a rare combination of
features that, together, make this species completely irresistible. The price tag is
almost irrelevant. Money is exchanged, it goes into the car and is transported carefully
back to your garden. And there it stands for months in its pot.
Yes, another impulse buy has been made. We are all guilty of it. It happens all the
time with me. The trouble with these purchases is that, because they are unplanned,
they often don't belong in your garden in the first place – the soil is wrong or your
climate not quite right, or there simply isn't enough room. Such plants often die, doing
so either slowly or rapidly. My particular problem is with trees - I can't resist them.
The previous owner of our garden was obsessed with conifers, which was a shame.
Not that I have anything against these trees, its just that there were so many of them
and they were all very large (or would be soon). So I've spent the winter removing
many of them and now have lots of gaps.
I do, however, love maples (Acer sp.), particularly the snake-bark species with
alternating vertical stripes of yellow, green and red on their branches and attractive
foliage that is often spectacular in the Autumn. An impulse buy of Acer capillipes (5’
high) in June 1998 has finally been planted after spending 10 months in a pot. It was
waiting for a conifer to be removed and I almost heard it sigh with relief when it
entered its planting hole! Is this a record, or do some plants spend years in limbo
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between purchase and planting? The moral is to always prepare a site before
purchasing any plants, but how many of us do that?
Anyway, welcome to the 5th edition of the Newsletter, which is larger and (hopefully)
better than ever. I must give a huge thank you to all those that have contributed the
excellent articles, and also to those that typed all the text into a computer for me. With
my current Atlas 2000 commitments, it would have been impossible for me to do the
typing, so without them this Newsletter would not have happened! Please note that the
next Newsletter will be out in September, so any contributions should be with me by
1st August 1999.
Trevor Dines (Newsletter Editor)
Rhyd y Fuwch, Bethel, Caernarfon, Gwynedd. LL55 3PS.
e-mail: TrevorDines@compuserve.com
PS. I have just been out to buy some vegetable seeds and come back with Acer
micranthum (an absolute stunner with striped bark, red twigs and beautifully
proportioned leaves). Now, where shall I put it?
JOAN MORGAN - A Short Tribute
Joan Morgan, who died on 28th December 1998, supported Treborth Botanic Garden
for many years both in her professional capacity as a lecturer in Entomology in the
University and through her appreciation of plants and gardens. She joined the Friends
of Treborth soon after its launch and actively opposed the development of the
Athletics Track adjacent to the Botanic Garden, joining the picket line which greeted
the councillors prior to their final, misguided decision.
Joan was a member of the committee of the North Wales branch of the Welsh Historic
Gardens Trust and for many years played a very prominent role in the North Wales
Naturalists' Trust (now the N. Wales Wildlife Trust). A distinguished entomologist,
she curated one of the finest collections of insects in the country and made her
unparalleled knowledge available to all who asked. Joan was devoted to the
conservation of wildlife and gardens and in both respects will be very sadly missed.
Nigel Brown (Curator)
A fuller tribute by Jane Cherrett appears in the Spring issue of the North Wales
Wildlife Trust Newsletter available from 376 High Street, Bangor (telephone 01248
351541).
oopp
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FRIENDS OF TREBORTH EVENTS
Volunteers Sessions
For our fortnightly Thursday afternoon sessions a small but dedicated number of
"Friends" have turned up regularly through the depressing winter months and carried
out a variety of tasks. Now and then we have unexpected volunteers such as the
afternoon when Mr and Mrs Saunders came and we could put them to work on
bamboo's knowing they were experienced in that group of grasses. Thursday
afternoon is obviously not convenient for everyone. In March one member undertook
two Monday sessions from 11am to 3pm and we hope to continue these sessions. If
we are going to make a real difference at Treborth we really could do with some more
help so if you have time to spare please let us know when would be most convenient.
There is lots of interesting and rewarding work to be done.
Pauline Perry (Chairman)
qqrr
There are no poppies in Antarctica
by Professor G.E. Fogg - 2nd December 1998
"There are no poppies in Antarctica" was the intriguing title of the talk given by
Professor Fogg at a joint meeting of the University of Bangor Bird Club and the
Friends of Treborth Botanic Garden.
The poppy was used as a colourful vehicle for a journey to the harsh conditions of
Antarctica to illustrate the amazing adaptation of plant dispersal, growth and
colonisation.
Professor Fogg began with the fragile nature of the wild poppy of the fields and the
adaptation of the Himalayan poppy to high altitude. Then the diversity of the genus
was shown with the dwarf Arctic poppy combating northern latitudes on the Island of
Spitsbergan.
Humorous hints were given for a possible future for poppies on Antarctica via birds
and boats and the southern ocean winds which often only take eight days to migrate
round the frozen continent.
An examination of the past was given by the occurrence of pollen of the Antarctic
beech tree. Examples of plant tenacity was illustrated by green algae, growing
beneath the frozen ground, a plant community which may be 10,000 years old. Algae
were also shown turning snow pink and a carpet of pink on the droppings of an Adelie
penguin (Pygoscelis adeliae) colony.
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A highlight of the talk was to see the only two seed plants which occur in Antarctica,
the Antarctic grass (Deschampsia antarctica) and the Antarctic pearlwort
(Colobanthus quitensis).
John Whitehead
"Kingdom in the sky" - Lecture by Daniel Brown
2nd February 1999
We were very privileged to have a talk by our Curator's son, Daniel Brown, who gave
us a lively account of his participation in the British Schools Exploring Society
expedition to Lesotho in Southern Africa.
In July and August of last year, a group of young people from both Britain and
Lesotho spent some six weeks in the field in this beautiful and varied country, (which
incidentally is twinned with Wales, to which it is similar in size), combining camping,
adventure and an arduous scientific programme. The participants were divided into
several groups, to study such topics as waterfall studies, biogeochemistry, rare plants,
dinosaur footprints, and a bird group to which Daniel belonged.
The work of the ornithologists involved population studies on the Cape Vulture, and
the Bearded Vulture or Lammergeier. The latter possesses a 3m wing span, and has
the habit of carrying bones from carcasses aloft, to drop them from a considerable
height, to break them open and give the bird access to the nutritious marrow within.
Other species of birds encountered were recorded to provide a contribution from some
of the more remote parts of the country, to a bird atlas of Lesotho.
Daniel described his excitement at what he saw, and the hardships of camping in
remote and high areas with daily hikes averaging 10 miles, often in bad weather and
with snow at high altitudes. This was all vividly conveyed to the audience by his own
excellent photographs, some of which were accompanied by a tape of local music. He
ended by thanking friends who had contributed to the fund which had made his visit
possible. He ably fielded a storm of questions, some of which occurred at the
beginning of his talk when the projector failed.
We all congratulate him, and wish him well for his forthcoming expedition, with the
same Society to South Georgia, the Falklands and Patagonia. His lecture on them is
eagerly anticipated.
Malcolm Cherrett (Committee Member)
Conservation work in Treborth Woodland
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On a Sunday in January five "Friends" enjoyed a morning clearing anything from a
cherry-laurel sapling to a tree about eight feet high in an area at Treborth where it was
encroaching upon the silver birch wood. Part of one of Paxton's drainage ditches also
flowed through the area and was cleared of debris as well as brambles. By the time
we had finished with the laurel we were back to the area which had been cleared about
eight years ago by reason of the fact that the pile of felled timber from that time had
been exposed. Laurel spreads by throwing out far reaching lateral growths at or near
ground level which naturally produce adventitious roots and thereby layer themselves.
I was felling one branch only to find it had bent and rooted itself further away.
After a break for lunch in the Lab. Nigel took us to view the Bog Garden and showed
us the work that needed to be done there by way of cutting back Rhododendron
ponticum, digging out the Paxton drainage ditches and removing giant butterbur so
that other plants can be introduced to improve its ornamental potential. We went on to
look at the limestone wall and ended up clearing variegated yellow archangel, a very
invasive plant, and brambles from it and the surrounding area.
Whilst working we were in the company of robins and wrens and saw a raven
mobbing a sparrow hawk in the afternoon. Why not join us for similar work on a
Thursday afternoon - it's a great area in which to help by working at the same time as
enjoying good company and wild life!
Jessie Davey (Volunteer)
Curator's note on Alien Plants
The three weed species which Jessie mentions in her report are examples of plants
which have been introduced to the British Isles, either deliberately or accidentally, by
Man and are often referred to as "aliens" by botanists.
Cherry-laurel (Prunus laurocerasus) was introduced in 1576 from S.E. Europe and the
Caspian Sea region as an ornamental shrub for large gardens and estates. The
combination of dense shade and prussic acid rich leaf litter is sufficient to eradicate all
plant life beneath and prevents regeneration of native woodland flowers for years to
come.
The curiously attractive, modest-sized cream flower heads of giant butterbur
(Petasites japonicus) give no hint of the foliar onslaught which will engulf the bog
garden by June. Introduced for garden purposes from Japan this thuggish wetland
herbaceous perennial overwhelms its neighbours with vast rhubarb-like leaves
sprouting from far-spreading, fleshy underground stems.
Variegated yellow archangel (Lamiastrum galeobdolon subsp. argentatum) is
probably of recent garden origin and if Treborth's experience of it is anything to go
by then it looks set to become one of the most invasive aliens so far seen in the
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British Isles, especially in semi-shaded situations. Originally favoured as an
attractive and highly effective ground cover plant it now threatens to impose its
rampant stolons in woodlands here at Treborth and throughout the country, excluding
choice natives such as primrose, bluebell and early purple orchid.
We will keep you posted on our troubles and struggles with aliens at Treborth and
watch out for a special article all about alien plants in the wider countryside in the
next Newsletter.
"Why Save Plants?" The Len Beer Memorial Lecture
by Professor Gren Lucas - 11th March 1999
This year's Len Beer Lecture attracted an audience of 150 who gathered to hear a
former keeper of the Kew Herbarium and energetic protagonist of plant conservation
at international level justify the need to save plants. Professor Lucas did not
disappoint.
In a stirring, entertaining lecture the Welsh-born doyen of botanical affairs undertook
an incisive personal review of the diverse manner in which plants secure our
livelihoods from food for the body and mind to maintaining the very substrate we live
upon. Using a rich and relevant sequence of examples gleaned from his extensive
travels, Professor Lucas took us on a roller-coaster of emotions from the despair of deforestation to the triumph of science in agriculture, horticulture and conservation and
the beauty of natural and man-made plant associations.
Despite widescale losses of diversity Professor Lucas remains bullish about the future
claiming that plants have the genetic potential for their own survival as well as our
own if only we have the will to recognise the fact and harness all their potential in a
sympathetic manner.
Following the lecture Ian Leslie presented Professor Lucas with a print of Primula
auricula by Margaret Todd on behalf of the Alpine Garden Society, North Wales
Group who jointly organise the Len Beer Lectures with the Friends of Treborth. The
Friends presented a recent biography of Mary Richards, a fellow Welsh botanist who
collaborated with Professor Lucas in Africa, written with engaging authority by the
late Bill Condry.
A very good quality video of this excellent Lecture is available on request from
Treborth Botanic Garden - telephone 01248 353398
Nigel Brown (Curator)
Propagation Workshop
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On Sunday, March 21st a group of enthusiasts met at Treborth to hear David Toyne
on the subject of plant production by a variety of means.
There were examples of various media on show, including the soil-less mixes of Coir,
barley straw, slate waste, composted straw, coir and sewage cake and ground bark.
David stressed the need to mix in Perlite or Vermiculite in all preparations for seed
sowing or cuttings to aerate and improve the water and nutrient holding property of
the mix. We were given the history of the John Innes soil composts (which should be
called John Newall as he invented the formula at the John Innes Institute!). Although
we are all against using peat cut from threatened wetlands, David told us that none of
these mixes were quite as effective as peat because it has completed its decomposition
and is stable. Newer materials can shrink in the pots, but with care and used fresh,
they can make excellent alternatives.
David emphasised the importance of using clean trays and pots, using a solution of
1% old fashioned bleach in water to wash all surfaces before starting work. Also
essential was the careful labelling of all trays and pots throughout their various stages,
with amusing tales of past disasters which we all must have had from time to time. He
showed us the correct RHS way to fill seed trays and pots, where the surface must be
absolutely level with gentle firming and not to use thumbs.
A good tip when you have seed left in a packet is to re-seal the inner foil container,
label and place it in a used film canister in the chill tray of the fridge. Seeds should
never be soaked in water, they are best placed on tissue soaked in water, where they
will take up the correct amount. A seed has an incredible ability to absorb water.
Small seed will last longer than larger ones which may go off in one year. Seed
bought in is usually sealed in foil packets in to which nitrogen has been blown to
prevent deterioration.
This article can't hope to repeat all David's expertise. He went on to tell us the three
main types of cuttings, which he often puts in a mix of 50/50 Vermiculite and Perlite
to encourage a strong root system.
1. Soft cuttings, current years' non-flowering growth, 2-3" long, clean cut with a knife
below a node, and lower leaves removed. As these small stems have very little energy
in the form of carbohydrates they will need gentle heat and protection from
evaporation in the form of plastic domes or bags. "Warm bottoms, misty middles and
cool tops" sums it up nicely.
2. Semi-ripe cuttings, taken July onwards when the stems have become more woody,
4-6" long, often taken with a "heel" of older stem which should be trimmed neatly
with a knife. These may not need bottom heat but will need protection of a cold frame
or greenhouse, and careful monitoring against rotting of leaves, which should be
reduced and must not touch the compost surface.
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3. Hardwood cuttings, usually taken in autumn, 9-12" of current years' growth cut
1/4" below node, now woody, can be successfully rooted in a slit trench in the open
ground, with some grit in the base to prevent waterlogging. They will be ready
to move the following autumn. Again, remove lower leaves.
When in the garden taking material for cuttings take a separate plastic bag for each
type, a few drops of water in the bag, seal tightly and LABEL.
David went on to show us leaf cuttings, rooting cacti, and itemised various groups of
plants for which the three methods were suitable. He also told us of techniques for
dividing plants in the border, multiplying bulbs, and house plants.
We are incredibly lucky to have such an expert and amusing teacher in our midst. The
Friends present were very appreciative and asked pertinent questions during the
afternoon, which with a cup of tea and biscuits provided, made a very happy meeting.
Ann Wood (Secretary)
Easter Monday Open Day and Plant Sale
The weather Gods smiled on Treborth again for our Open Day, and heavy rain and
dark clouds in the morning failed to deter 130 or so Friends and families from coming
to Treborth for a most enjoyable afternoon.
The skies cleared so that the outdoor sales area was extremely popular. We had a large
range of hardy plants, from herbs, herbaceous perennials, shrubs and some lovely
Hellebores in flower, to young trees. Inside, similar success was created with a stand
of cacti and other succulents, pelargoniums and indoor plants. Very many thanks to all
those who brought plants for us to sell.
The Laboratory looked most welcoming with our display "Why Save Plants?". Groups
of specimens, such as "Plants which heal us" with Aloe ferox, Catharanthus roseus
and Symphytum, were attractively arranged, and created a lot of interest. The Tropical
and Temperate Glasshouses were also a source of delight with the Jasminum
polyanthum scenting the air.
Nigel took several groups round the gardens, which were looking splendid, if wet
underfoot. So inspired were some of his audience that we gained several new
members.
Hot drinks and biscuits were served through the afternoon by a busy group of helpers
and the whole event raised a good sum of money for the Friends.
Ann Wood (Secretary)
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aabb
WEATHER AND WILDLIFE
December 1998 - March 1999
101mm (4") of rain in December was a fitting end to a wet year (total 48.5"). It was at
least mild allowing hedgehogs to forage whilst a weasel put in daytime appearances
by the main laboratory building. A Firecrest was observed on 5th & 8th December
(following several sightings in November) and a male Greenfinch ringed by Daniel at
Treborth in 1995 stunned itself against a window but recovered well enough to fly
away 24 hours later.
Mild, wet and sometimes windy conditions continued throughout much of January,
the first week of the New Year producing 76mm (3") of rain and a maximum
temperature of 12oC. Coltsfoot (Tussilago farfara) and Primrose (Primula vulgaris)
were in bloom on 4th and wild Arum shoots (Arum maculatum) stood 8cm tall. Two
days later Song Thrush provided the first dawn chorus of 1999, supported by Great Tit
and Coal Tit song by mid-January.
A duel on 11 January made compelling viewing - it broke out between two cock
robins in search of easy pickings as leaves were raked between flower pots. Quite
suddenly the two birds locked claws and fell to the ground grappling with cruel intent.
Eventually one (ringed as it happens) triumphantly perched up on a large plant pot,
fluffed out his feathers and burst into vigorous, victorious song whilst the vanquished
male slunk silently out of site behind adjacent pots. Surprisingly ten minutes later
their duel resumed, and with the same outcome.
Daffodils first bloomed on 14th January (two days earlier than the previous record
early date) and the catkins of a far Eastern Alder (Alnus hirsuta) fully adorned leafless
branches on 29th January. The dawn chorus was building up throughout the second
half of the month with up to four separate Song Thrushes in full voice. By month end
the rainfall total was 181mm (over 7") and the Garden was saturated.
February's weather was unexceptional, generally quite mild and again rather damp
(71mm, nearly 3" in total). A cooler spell in the second week produced huge
snowflakes which smothered the Garden for a few hours on 7th. Catkins of our native
Alder (Alnus glutinosa) began to open on 4th February and by then the Dog's Mercury
(Mercurialis perennis) was in full flower in the woodland. By the third week an
ornamental birch from Eastern Asia, Betula platyphylla was already in leaf whilst
Cytisus 'Porlock' was covered in bright yellow, slightly scented flowers.
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Tawny Owls were notably vocal at night throughout the month and several birds of
prey such as Buzzard, Peregrine and Sparrowhawk engaged in territorial and courtship
display flights over the Garden, in turn exciting the resident Ravens to defend their
air-space.
After a squally start March enjoyed more sunshine than previous months though
enough rain fell (91.5mm, 3 3/4") to maintain wet conditions under foot.
Temperatures reached 16.5oC on the 17th and dropped to minus 0.5oC overnight on
the 10th. Moth catches leapt to over 100 individuals of up to 15 species whilst
amphibians courted and spawned in the main Garden pool. The first summer migrant
bird species, chiffchaff sang boldly from the railway embankment on 26th (later than
usual) whilst Heron chicks were vocal on their nests from 10th March onwards.
House Sparrow, a surprisingly scarce visitor to Treborth was present from 26th
March. Peacock butterflies emerged from hibernation around 16th and Pipistrelle
Bats around 23rd March.
Throughout the month the swathes of daffodils looked very fine and Primula
'Tipperary Purple' beamed out between the rocks on the rock garden along with a free
flowering crimson cultivar of Grevillea alpina. The superb chunky catkins of Alnus
maximowiczii opened in mid -March and the vanilla scent of Azara microphylla was a
constant joy. Under glass Acacia pravissima was brilliant and Ceropegia sandersonii
(family Asclepiadaceae) put on a striking show with several large and long-lasting
parachute like blooms.
Although our scheduled star watch in February fell foul of the weather there were
opportunities to view the night sky on and off throughout the winter and it was the
planets that drew most attention. On Christmas Eve Jupiter, a half Moon and Saturn
formed an attractive line and by mid-January they were joined by a brilliant Venus.
On 19th February shortly after dusk all three planets formed a spectacular cluster with
a crescent moon in the south-western sky. In the early hours of the following morning
a fourth planet, Mars, rose prominently in the South, sign-posted by the bright stars
Spica and Arcturus.
Nigel and Daniel Brown
qqrr
The Treborth Rhizotrons
The word Rhizotron comes from two Greek words, rhiza meaning a root, and the
suffix, -tron, meaning a machine or instrument, so that originally the word was coined
for a piece of equipment used to study roots. Classical rhizotrons are usually
subterranean glass-walled chambers, from which soil, plant roots, and soil organisms
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can be studied in situ. East Malling Research Station pioneered the earliest models in
Britain, but the windows of these were relatively deep in the ground, designed to
study fruit tree root growth at some depth.
Our interest however was primarily in the animals living in soils, and as the majority
of these are to be found near the surface, we needed a rhizotron which would look out
on these superficial layers, and include the soil/air boundary. The soil fauna is
extremely rich and numerous. It influences soil tilth and drainage, assists in breaking
down dead organic matter, and recycling the nutrients. Its members are also major
consumers of the plant production which occurs underground (up to 50% in some
cases), through the production of root systems and storage organs.
Our first rhizotron, a cheap experimental design was built in 1983 for Alan Carpenter,
a PhD student from New Zealand. It was made using breeze blocks, and metal
window frames to support the 9 windows on four sides, used to monitor the activity of
soil animals (Carpenter, A., Cherrett, J.M., Ford, J.B., Thomas, M. and Evans, E.
1985. An inexpensive rhizotron for research on soil and litter living organisms. In
Ecological Interactions in the Soil Environment ed. A.H. Fitter, pp.67-71. Blackwell
Scientific Publications, Oxford). This rhizotron can still be seen in the north-western
corner of the rhizotron enclosure.
It was very successful, but its small size, (with only nine windows, facing in four
directions, each subject to different weather conditions), made it difficult to obtain
enough replications of the experiments we wanted to conduct. Accordingly, we made
plans for a much bigger structure, and with funds from the Agriculture and Food
Research Council, this was eventually built in 1987, at a cost of £36,000. It consisted
of sixteen prefabricated L-shaped concrete sections, normally used in the construction
of silage pits, into which PVC window frames had been cast. Steps, a concrete floor,
and concrete roof sections completed the structure which is 16.5m long, 2.5m wide
and 2.3m deep, and has 34 windows, to allow adequate replication (Sackville
Hamilton, C.A.G., Cherrett, J.M., Ford, J.B., Sagar, G.R. and Whitbread, R. 1991, A
modular rhizotron for studying soil organisms: construction and establishment, In
Plant Root Growth an Ecological Perspective Ed. D. Atkinson, pp. 49-59. Blackwell
Scientific Publications, Oxford). The photograph on the front cover shows the large
rhizotron in the foreground, and its small predecessor in the background (courtesey of
Dr M.J. Cherrett).
The unique advantage offered by a rhizotron is that you can directly observe, a large
cross section through the soil, and by repeated observations, follow the changes that
occur with time. These can be the gradual growth of roots, the development of root
hairs and mycorrizas, their consumption by animals, and all the other activities of the
soil fauna.
Studies to date have covered such diverse topics as the invasion of sterilised soil by
animals; the development, death rate and rate of turnover of the roots of grassland
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plants; the effects on soil animals of ploughing compared with herbicides for
eliminating an old crop; the effects of chemicals on insects and earthworms; the
impact of fertilisers on root growth and consumption; the role of animals in the
breakdown of organic matter in the soil, and the predators of insect resting stages in
the soil. Perhaps our most complete study to date has been the construction of the first
foodweb showing the interactions of soil organisms, to be obtained by directly
observing the animals feeding on each other. It was the result of many months
regularly monitoring who was doing what to whom, on the other side of the windows
(Gunn, A. and Cherrett, J.M., 1993, The exploitation of food resources by soil mesoand macro invertebrates. Pedobiologia 37, 303-320).
For those with the patience to sit and watch, the rhizotron is a unique facility for
giving us a glimpse into the relatively unknown world in which much of the plant and
animal material in the world lives.
Malcolm Cherrett (Committee Member)
CORRESPONDENCE FROM MIDDLETON
The National Botanic Garden of Wales
Middleton Hall
Llanarthne
Carmathenshire
SA32 8HG
8th February 1999
Dear Friends,
Nigel Brown kindly sent us a copy of your January Newsletter which describes your
recent visit to the new National Botanic Garden of Wales. We were delighted that you
found it so enjoyable, despite the weather!
I would like, if I may, to add a little more information about two of the subjects
touched upon in your article. These are: the Genetic Garden and the Broadwalk.
The Genetic Garden will indeed show how plants have developed, and been
developed, through the centuries. We also wish to act as a neutral platform for the
presentation of information about genetic engineering, by companies and
organisations, whatever their viewpoint/stand may be. Thus views on possible uses,
benefits, dangers and disadvantages will be available for the public to inform
themselves and make up their own minds. It must be stressed that the policy of the
Garden is not to have genetically modified organisms in its collection.
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The herbaceous border in the Broadwalk has been planted initially with a range of
plants readily available from good nurseries; it is, however, seen as a 'work in
progress'. From now on it can be changed and added to include rarer treasures from
specialist growers, and wild collected specimens available only through other botanic
gardens and professional plant collectors. Plant conservation and scientific research
are an integral part of the mission of this botanic garden and, along with other sections
of the garden, the herbaceous border will 'house' botanically important populations.
On behalf of the NBGW I would like to thank you for your interest in, and support of,
this project, and hope that we can welcome you back for many visits in the future!
Yours sincerely,
Louise Howorth (NBGW Horticulturalist)
uuvv
Chaenomeles speciosa versus Oniscus asellus
JAPANESE QUINCE v. WOODLICE
Three years ago I picked a handful of fruits from my Japonica quince - they looked
attractive and smelled most pleasantly so I placed them behind my front door with the
intention of dealing with them at some more convenient time.
My front door conceals a small porch which was a gathering place for woodlice,
dozens of them, which I would sweep down from the walls and off the ceiling every
day.
Inevitably, the fruit was forgotten, and then it became obvious that the woodlice had
not returned.
Each year I have used the same tactics with the similar results - no woodlice - plus
many a thank you from friends to whom I have given this information.
Although "Why?" might be of great interest, I am well satisfied to believe that
Oniscus asellus seems to have been defeated and is now confined to the garden!
Brenda Harris (Treasurer)
aabb
Moth Mania at the Botanic Garden!
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During the autumn and the lead upto Christmas last year I was conducting the
practical side of my Honours project at Treborth - some of you may have noticed me
wandering around at strange times of night and day with unfortunate moths in jars!
The project was an investigation into the relative attraction of moths to two different
wattage bulbs, and therefore differing brightness. Treborth Botanic Garden provides
an ideal spot for this study, for a couple of reasons; firstly the close proximity of such
varied habitats and secondly Nigel and Daniel's considerable knowledge of moths.
For 30 consecutive nights during September and October I was running two traps at
different sites along the Arboretum. Each morning I counted and identified the
catches. It came to my attention that one of the sites wasn't attracting nearly the same
numbers of moths as the other, regardless of which bulb was used (the bulbs were
alternated each night between sites). The explanation of this became clear when
observing the traps one evening, I noticed that at the site in question Pipistrelle bats
were exploiting the concentration of insects attracted to the light. This was exciting to
watch as the bats would swoop to within a metre or two of the ground to catch the
moths and other insects, although I'm sure the moths didn't appreciate being drawn
into this interesting spectacle!
Throughout the period of trapping I caught a total of 1897 individual moths
representing 57 species. These ranged from common moths for the time of year, such
as Large Yellow Underwing and Common Marbled Carpet to some exciting and rarer
immigrants like the Vestal and Blair's Shoulder Knot. All the moths were released the
following evening unharmed. These field results were later compared with those
obtained in a more controlled experimental environment, which made use of the
underground laboratory.
Both practical aspects of the investigation constituted the enjoyable part of the project,
visiting the garden every day tending to the traps. What followed was the analysis of
data and writing up, which I have just completed and handed in, and that I can inform
you was considerably more stressful!
Paul Squire (3rd Year B.Sc. Zoology Student)
oopp
In response to "Mulch Ado" (Newsletter 4)
On one occasion I heard a talk by a farmer who was obviously exceedingly good at
growing acres of potatoes. No problem, turn the green grass that grows after the crop
has been harvested over and leave upside down. What could be more simple? Lovely
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green manure. But not, as I later learned, was it suited to my garden, except to provide
ideal conditions for a thick covering of couch grass!
Very different is the organic garden to be found at Llynfaes, beyond Llangefni. For
the last six months the 1½ acre garden has belonged to retired G.P. Dr David Hopkins
and his wife Vivien. In June Vivien will have completed a course on homeopathy.
It's not surprising therefore that, as well as the companion planting, they will be
creating a herb garden and a physic garden with homeopathic plants. They'll also
carry on the composting as practised by the previous owner, who made use of stable
manure, old papers, textile materials, and just about anything that will rot down.
The converted barn was used as a Gallery but now needs refurbishing and therefore
won't be ready for summer 1999. In the garden, however, there are interesting natural
shapes of tree roots arranged at focal points in the garden. The whole is well worth a
visit, especially to wander around on a sunny summer day. Eventually organic
produce, both fruit and vegetables, will be available for purchase.
Brenda Harris (Treasurer)
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