152 NEW ZEALAND PLANTS. 



It is, however, an ornamental wood, and can be used for inlaying and 

 turnery. As a firewood its badness is almost incredible, and truly 

 none but the newest of chums would dream of using it when camped 

 in the forest. ' Bucket-of-water wood," it has been termed ; and the 

 rather tall story goes how a trunk, which had been used for a back log 

 to a fire for a whole year, upon being finally cast into the open ail as 

 worthless, put forth green shoots, and grew again into a tree ! 



As a garden plant F. excorticata is not unpleasing ; but for a small 

 garden F. Colensoi is more to be recommended. Neither species will 

 tolerate much frost, although F. excorticata is abundant in the cold 

 mountain districts of the South Island. There is a distinctly hand- 

 some form with purple leaves ; but this is rare, and only in cultivation 

 in the gardens of one or two enthusiasts. 



