
Before this the only tree seedlings available were Sugar Gum-Eucalyptus cladocalyx, Brazilian Pepper-Schinus terebinthifolius, and Kurrajong-Brachychiton gregorii from the Forest Department Hamel nursery. I often see the first two trees at early farm homesteads. LIvestock don't eat them.
The Narrogin arboretum, smaller than most, was added to over several years as new species became available, with the last trees being planted in 1969.
In the last couple of years well established tree in the arboretum have died. As part of a search for possible causes I obtained the DBCA file containing the original planting map, and a report on arboreta success by George Brockway in 1965.
Brockway never ceases to amaze me: he is truly a legendary forester and conservationist, who initiated the arboretum project with a series of trials in 1946 as the Kalgoorlie District Forestry Officer.
Another complication is the warming and dryer climate. E. rudis-Flooded Gum trees, which grew on in sandy surfaced soil on the southern side of the arboretum have all died except for a clump below a street drain outlet on Range Road. Other apparently healthy large trees in Foxes Lair abruptly died in the last two years, including a large Tasmanian Blue Gum. Similarly a row of E. Lane-pooleii trees (with the exception of one adjoining a drain) on loamy sand on the western end of the arboretum died in the past 3 years. They survived for 70 years as attractive mini-versions of trees in their natural range. Despite this, some WA higher rainfall species have thrived and many Goldfields species have done poorly. Why do E. gomphocephala-Tuart (southwest coastal sand), E. preissii-Bell Fruited Mallee (south coast species) do so well here?

- Brockway noted that imported species tend to be more successful in arboreta than locals, because insect pests do not recognize them as being edible. This is very evident at Narrogin in excellent growth of most Eastern States trees, and perhaps the Tuarts. He specifically mentioned wood boring beetles, but termites and stink bugs are the main culprits at Narrogin. The damn stink bugs are everywhere. When I plant seedlings in Foxes Lair I have to cover susceptible species with fly mesh for a few seasons to stop the growing points being sucked dry.
Brockway also noted that tree plantings were more successful after a crop than in cleared bush. Factors involved include
- Seedling response to fertilizer, particularly phosphorus.
- Retained subsoil water
- Fewer insects
Most mallees have thrived in the arboretum, particularly on the upper slopes. Oil mallees planted on heavy soil (E. kochii subspecies kochii and plenissima) have persisted on the heavy soil but are attacked by stink bugs. E. kochii subsp. kochii did not persist on a sandier row.
Mallets appear to have a shorter life than trees and mallees.
E. spathulata has exquisite bark in autumn, and one of them was the official hugging tree. Alas, no longer.
Plants in the Narrogin arboretum row are continuously infested by termites that cause branches to snap regularly, but the moorts still thrive and flower prolifically.