In October 1903 the British Government started their tree nursery at Irene. The nursery rapidly became the most important of some half-dozen in the Transvaal, and lasted until the outbreak of the First World War in 1914. Bertie and his son were responsible for many of the planted trees on the farm; the beautiful avenues of oaks along the river and around the homestead were planted with their own hands. Another of the species they planted was the Honey Locust Tree, “with its clusters of dark red thorns and honeyed pods, which are so much enjoyed by the farm pigs and cattle”
