Many years ago – almost longer ago than I care to remember (and indeed almost longer ago than I can probably remember) I developed an intimate acquaintance with the University Botanic Garden at Cambridge, and a long friendship with its then Director, John Gilmore, a Fellow of Clare College a taxonomist and a humanist of monumental repute. The garden was originally founded in 1762 for the benefit of medical students. Eighty years later it moved to its present site at the corner of Trumpington Road and Bateman Street for the general benefit of university scientists. Its director in those early days was Professor John Henslow, who was one of the great influences on Charles Darwin. The passage of nearly two hundred years saw great changes in the development of the garden (aided by a generous bequest by Reginald Cory, a man of coal), which included a winter garden; a limestone rockery and water garden; a scented garden; and a burgeoning interest in places of outstanding scientific interest. There was, for example, Wicken Fen in Cambridgeshire and Buff Wood in Bedfordshire, both places of outstanding natural beauty in early spring, full of grasses and marsh plants and violets, anemones and celandines; areas where students, including yours truly, spent many fascinating and productive hours. The garden has for a long time been a model of ecological development, horticultural excellence and plant taxonomy.
The University Botanic Garden is in area of very low rainfall – about 21 inches a year – and is an essential teaching arm for students who live and study at Cambridge. Here in Guyana the Georgetown Botanic Garden is larger than the one at Cambridge, receiving about five times the annual rainfall. Alas, it has no formal teaching role as far as the University of Guyana is concerned, or as far as the schools in Georgetown are concerned. There is no development of specific collections to support research or to supply live material for teaching, which is very sad indeed. There is no benefactor (yet?) like Cambridge’s Reginald Cory to make the garden financially independent of the state, which has more pressing calls on the taxpayers’ money.
So alas, a garden that once enjoyed an international scientific reputation now functions only as an amenity for public recreation, and not a very good one at that. One might reasonably ask if there is any hope of a recovery to its former state, or whether in fact that is any longer relevant. Ought we instead to be thinking of a garden, independent of the state, which can develop ornamental plants and trees in natural situations, and perhaps at the same time still give a service to university and high schools when required? Again, I suspect, not if it has to depend on state funding and control. Oh my word, for a Reginald Cory to be waiting in the sidelines.
Use the north point for sun-sensitive plants (including seedlings and newly potted plants) and your work area. No sense at all in working in full sunlight and boiling your brain. Once you can face north you know that east is always going to be on your right shoulder.
I make this very elementary point because establishing the points of the compass in your garden is a prerequisite for the successful placing of your plants, whether they are to be grown in shade or full sun. Just as important as your work area is the establishment of a place where you and your friends will be able to sit and survey things in a little shade during the late afternoon.
Have you all managed to avoid getting involved in discussions about organic crops on your visit to the supermarket? A word or two next week. Meanwhile, take care and may your God go with you wherever you are in this heavenly country.
