134 



NEW ZEALAND PLANTS. 



reserves have been proclaimed, and various extensive national parks 

 and special sanctuaries have been set aside. This has been an ad- 

 mirable national work, but it is needful to see that typical examples 

 of the various plant societies are preserved. A plant society, as 

 shown in an earlier chapter, is something distinct in itself, and it is 

 the special combination of plants rather than the individual species 

 which dominate the scenery of New Zealand, giving it its peculiar 

 character. Were the protection of the species themselves all that 



. 59. Spontaneous growth of an Australian Gum (Eucalyptus n 

 which has taken the place of -Manuka heath by help of fire. Waitati. 



'[Photo, L. Cockayne. 



Otago. 



was desired, then they might well be collected in botanic gardens, 

 and the whole length and breadth of the land turned over to flocks 

 and herds and fires, becoming on barren ground hot-beds of weeds, 

 unprofitable for farming. How this can happen is to be seen only 

 too well on our river-beds, where gorse, broom, and sweet-briar reign : 

 or on unused bush-clearings, where the California!! thistle alone 

 flourishes. 



