THE FORESTS. 25 



CHAPTER III. 



THE FORESTS. 



A priceless possession Rain-forest climate The two classes of forests General 

 characteristics of the mixed forest Origin of special forest plants Lianes 

 and epiphytes Flowers Fertilisation New Zealand timbers The kauri 

 forest The kahikatea forest The mixed forest and its distribution- 

 Beech forests. 



HOWEVER little the average New-Zealander may know about the 

 plants of his country, few there are who cannot raise some en- 

 thusiasm regarding the ' bush," as the forest is everywhere called. 

 To old and young it is a delight the stately trees ; the birds, fearless 

 of man ; and, above all, the wealth of ferns appeal to all. But that 

 this forest is a unique production of nature, found in no other land, is 

 not a matter of common knowledge, though truly it has many claims 

 to be considered a priceless possession. 



According to the famous plant-geographer, Schimper, New Zea- 

 land has a rain-forest climate. That is to say, if no inhibitory con- 

 ditions existed, one green mantle of trees would cover the whole land. 

 Although this is not the case at present, it was in great part so when 

 the early settlers arrived. 



But this great forest was not all of one kind. The need of timber 

 for house-building soon proved that various kinds of trees were more 

 abundant in one locality than in another, and that some were wanting 

 in one forest while plentiful elsewhere. As the trees had in many cases 

 Maori names, the settlers soon learnt in a rough manner, it is true- 

 something as to the composition of the forests and their distribution. 

 But, as some Maori names are used very loosely, accuracy was quite 

 impossible. In this little book, therefore, although it is written for 

 the non-botanical, the scientific names, which are definite, are used, 

 as well as their more popular equivalents when such exist. 



There are two distinct classes of New Zealand forests viz., those 

 consisting of many different species of trees, and those that are 

 formed of but one kind,, or nearly so. To the first category 

 belong, with one or two exceptions, most of the lowland forests, 



