Cheesemax. — Age and Growth of the Kauri. 19 



2. That the number of measurements of trees of all sizes under 12 ft. 

 diameter is now sufficiently large to admit of the determination of an average 

 rate of growth, and that this rate can be stated with some confidence at 

 9-7 years for every inch of the radius of the tree. 



3. That although the greater number of examples will be found in the 

 neighbourhood of the general average, marked deviations may be occasion- 

 ally seen ; although, as these occur both above and below the average, 

 they do not materially influence the position. 



4. That as regards trees of greater diameter than 12 ft. some slight 

 uncertainty may still exist as to their age, on account of the total absence 

 of measured sections. But as no progressive decline in the diameter of the 

 annual rings has been found in the largest trees yet examined, and as a tree 

 of very large diameter is almost certainly a tree that has grown unusuallv 

 fast at one period of its life (see previous references to the 11 ft. tree), there 

 seems to be no reason for assuming that the average rate of growth is materi- 

 ally different. 



5. That although the kauri is not so excessively slow in its growth as has 

 been supposed, it is much slower than most trees of economic value. A 

 tree 2 ft. in diameter would have an average age of 116 years ; one of 3 ft., 

 174 years ; and one of 4 ft. would be 232 years old. Periods like these are 

 much too long to offer any hope of monetary return from the planting of 

 kauri, even if there were not other reasons to advance against such an 

 undertaking. 



Art. III. — Notes on Pittosporum Dallii. 



By T. F. Cheeseman, F.L.S., F.Z;S., Curator of the Auckland Museum. 



[Bead bejore the Auckland Institute, 3rd December, 1913.] 



Pittosporioit Dallii, which is one of the most distinct species of the genus, 

 was discovered by the late Mr. J. Dall in 1905 in the rugged mountainous 

 country at the back of Collingwood, north-west Nelson. Unfortunately, 

 imperfect fruiting specimens were alone obtained, and although I published 

 the plant in the Appendix to the " Manual of the New Zealand Flora " 

 (p. 1134) the description was in many respects incomplete. It Avas Mr. 

 Dall's intention to revisit the locality in search of flowers ; but an unfor- 

 tunate accident, from the effects of which he never completely recovered, 

 made it impossible for him to undertake the laborious journey which 

 would have been necessary, and he died in 1912 without obtaining any 

 additional material. Previous to his death, however, he had furnished 

 particulars of the locality to my friend Mr. F. G. Gibbs, so well known 

 from his researches into the botany of the Nelson Provincial District. 

 During the past summer Mr. Gibbs was fortunate enough to find the plant, 

 and to bring away a good series of flowering specimens, together with other 

 information respecting it. From this material I have been able to draw 

 up a much more complete description, and to give some other information 

 respecting the species. 



Pittosporum Dallii Cheesem., Man. N.Z. PL App. 1134. 



A small round-topped tree from 12 ft. to 18 ft. high ; trunk sometimes 

 8 in. diam. ; bark of stem and larger branches light grey. Branchlets stout, 



