Walsh. — On the Future of the Neto Zealand Bush. 481 



Other Pines. — Of the other so-called pines the totara and 

 rimu — both noble trees and of wide distribution — are the 

 most important. They are, however, much sought after for 

 the excellence of their timber ; and it is only a question of 

 time when all the best specimens will be removed in all 

 accessible situations. Fortunately, the seedlings are cattle- 

 resistant, and perfectly hardy ; and the totara and rimu, 

 together with the matai, tanekaha, miro, &c., will form an 

 important element of the bush of the future. 



Beeches. — The beeches, of which there are several varieties, 

 are chiefly confined to the South Island, where they frequently 

 form continuous bushes of large extent. The timber is used 

 for all purposes, and the best portions have been already cut 

 out. Mr. Kirk has pointed out a property of the beech- 

 forest which, with the exception of the tea-tree, is quite unique 

 in the New Zealand bush — viz., its power of renewing itself 

 from seed, all that is required for its perfect restoration being 

 the exclusion of cattle ivide " Forest Flora of New Zealand " : 

 Art. Fag us). 



Tatva. — The tawa, though unimportant as a timber tree, 

 deserves mention on account of its large size, wide distribution, 

 and handsome appearance. It is common to all parts of the 

 North Island, and formed a few years ago one of the most 

 attractive features of the extensive forests of Taranaki, 

 Hawke's Bay, and Wellington, now mostly destroyed by fire. 

 It is a tall, graceful tree, with a clean trunk and light willow- 

 like foliage. The timber until lately was considered to be of 

 little value except for firewood, on account of its perishable 

 nature, but of late a use has been found for it in the manu- 

 facture of butter-cases, for which it is excellently adapted. 

 The tawa is, unfortunately, one of the first trees to disappear, 

 as the roots stand out above the surface, and are covered with 

 the very thinnest of bark. In many districts where the bush 

 is otherwise in fairly good preservation it has almost entirely 

 perished. 



Totoai. — The towai is a large, handsome tree, chiefly valued 

 for the tanning properties of its bark. It is distributed all 

 over the colony, and has the distinction of being the only tree 

 above the size of a mere bush which grows in the open fern 

 land, where it quickly springs up from the root after a fire. 

 It is found in gi-eat abundance on steep rocky river-banks, and 

 floui'ishes on high and exposed situations. Although its roots 

 a,re very superficial, the towai is fairly cattle-resistant, and is 

 destined to figure largely in the bush of the future. 



Titoki. — Though comparatively inferior in point of size, 



the titoki has a strong claim on our attention from its extreme 



hardiness under all conditions. It is never touched by cattle, 



and is often found green and flourishing in the midst of the 



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