Book Review - as published in the Weekend Gardener (p32), September 22 - October 5 2011

The Growing World of Duncan and Davies: a horticultural history 1899-2010

There have been very few accounts of nurserymen or of commercial ornamental horticulture in New Zealand. The growing world of Duncan and Davies is therefore most welcome.

For most of last century Duncan and Davies (often better known as D & D) was New Zealand's leading nursery.

At its peak it employed nearly 250 staff, with many hectares devoted to stock plants, propagation facilities and the area required for packing and shipping more than a million plants each year. The firm produced comprehensive catalogues and led the way in exporting.

Not surprisingly, much of the book reads as a biography of Sir Victor Davies, leader of the firm for so many years.

Sir Victor was an extraordinary plantsman with an impressive knowledge. He also had determination and drive. His approach was accurately summed up by two mottos hanging in his office: "If a job is worth doing, it's worth doing well" and "If you have a job to do, do it now". It was appropriate that shortly before his death, he was appointed Knight Bachelor for his "services to horticulture in New Zealand and to the Royal New Zealand Institute of Horticulture".

Sir Victor is probably the only New Zealander to be knighted for his contribution to horticulture.

He was clearly patriarch of the firm even if he was not always the easiest of bosses and it could be difficult for his sucessors.

Alan Jellyman does not hide the tensions or difficulties, but neither does he dwell on them. It is particularly pleasing to see Trevor Davies receive overdue recognition for his knowledge of plants, his managerial skills and his commitment to horticulture.

Much of the book is upbeat, recording the many successes and stead advancement of the firm. This makes the last parts rather sad, as Duncan and Davies became the victim of corporate manoeuvring, with retrenchment following retrenchment and waves of redundancies followed.

Many of those then in charge may have had managerial skills but lacked an empathy for plants or understood what the customers and staff wanted. Jellyman is optimistic that the new owners with their nursery background will be more successful.

The author is well placed to write a history of Duncan and Davies. He started as an apprentic with the firm over 60 years ago, he spent essentially all his distinguished horticulutral career at New Plymouth, and he knows everybody in the world of horticulture. He therefore writes with authority and personal knowledge.

He has interviewed many of the Davies family and former staff and he has also done much detailed research, quoting extensively from old catalogues and local newspapers. My one major reservation is that he does not give explicit references for most quotes - they could be retrieved but only with some searching.

There are about 80 colour photographs and numerous black and white photographs. Those of the nursery at its heyday are particularly interesting.

This is probably not a book for the enthusiastic gardener or planstman. Rather, it is more appropriate for those with an interest in New Zealand horticultural history, business history or Taranaki local history. For such people, this book will be rewarding, indeed essential reading.

Dr Ross Ferguson, scientist, Plant and Food Research