1869.] NEW ZEALAND. 451 



hang on the ties ; making the soil thoroughly firm will in a manner 

 counteract the evil. 



Bedding plants of all kinds should soon be where protection can 

 be given. They may be placed in the pits or other winter-quarters, 

 but give plenty of air on every favourable opportunity. All things 

 must now be watered carefully, always giving enough to moisture all 

 the soil about the roots, but it need be given only when really neces- 

 sary. Fresh air, free from damp, is now desirable for Cinerarias, 

 Primulas, Pelargoniums, &c. The latter, if not already done, should 

 be shaken out of the old soil, the roots reduced, and repotted into 

 smaller pots. More sand than when in flowering-pots is necessary till 

 the roots are plentiful. If plants are too numerous for the means to 

 grow them in, it would be well to give some of them away, or destroy 

 them, rather than crowd and weaken the whole stock. Calceolaria 

 cuttings may now be taken off an inch or two long, using the young 

 tops. Use sandy loam in pans, pots, or shallow boxes, well drained : 

 place some clean sand over the surface, and put in the cuttings firmly; 

 shade them from sun, keep moderately moist, but no damp should be 

 harboured among the plants. China Roses for flowering in pots may 

 now be cut back or regulated : give fresh surfacing, but avoid batter- 

 ing the dressing down, which keeps out air from the plants. Every- 

 thing which is to be cared for through the winter should now be 

 looked after. Plants, however hardy, if they are in pots, require pro- 

 tection from frost. Dahlias should now be protected to keep them in 

 bloom, but covering and uncovering them is scarcely worth while. 

 Chrysanthemums will now require manure-water. M. T. 



NEW ZEALAND. 



Oamaru, Otago, New Zealand, 

 July 5, 1869. 



Sir, — It is my intention in sending you these papers not to confine 

 myself entirely to subjects under cultivation in the gardens here, but 

 also to give a brief description of the climate, soil, &c., plants indigen- 

 ous (as observed in their natural state, many species of which I have 

 seen cultivated in the gardens of Europe), as well as those foreign, 

 to New Zealand. I will proceed, then, to give a few remarks on the 



CLIMATE. 



By reference to a map of the world it will be seen that this place is 

 situated in lat. 44^ S., long. ITT E., or nearly. But in giving the 

 following statement I would have your readers understand that what 



