July 24, 1873. ] 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



67 



seandent species exhibit to our plant has donbtless eontribated 

 to the perpetuity of the mistake. M. florida, which is also 

 called Rata, is a climber in all stages of its existence, but 

 may readily be distinguished by its larger leaves and flowers, 

 its weak stems, and, above all, by the capsule being included 

 within the calyx-tube. More than half the capsule of M. ro- 

 biista is not included in the calyx-tube. 



There can be no question that M. robusta is often found 

 destroying trees by which it is supported, and these instances 

 are adduced by the bnshman as decisive proof of the climbing 

 habit of the plant, and he attempts to confirm his view by 

 calling the species just mentioned (M. florida) the young state 

 of the destroyer, totally ignorant of the fact that he is con- 

 fusing two widely-separate plants. lu reality, however, our 

 plant is exactly the reverse of a climber, the so-called trunks 

 or stems being truly aerial roots, sent down from an epiphytic 

 plant in search of nourishment ! The seeds of M. robusta 

 are conveyed by birds or blown by the wind amongst the epi- 

 phytic masses of Asteiiads, Lycopods, and Ferua so abundant 

 in the trees of the northern forests. In this situation the 

 plant takes root and forms a small bush, for a time obtaining 

 sufficient nonrishment from the decaying vegetation in which 

 it is growing, until the limited supply proving iusufEcient for 

 the increasing demand, its roots stretch boldly down the trunk 

 of the supporting tree in search of that full supply which can 

 only be obtained from the earth. Sometimes only a single 

 root is given off, at others one main root with one or two 

 weaker roots are to be seen, and again several roots of about 

 e inal dimensions are to be found ; bnt in nearly all cases the 

 different roots or stems are bound together by smaller roots, 

 which are given off at right angles to the trunk of the sup- 

 porting tree, and become united with the adjacent main roots 

 by inosculation ; not unfrequeutly masses of fibrous roots are 

 developed, which perish with the increase of the main root 

 after serving their purpose of deriving temporary nourishment 

 from the atmosphere. In course of time the various stems 

 become inosculated to a greater or lesser extent along their 

 course, and the supporting tree is literally strangled by their 

 iron embrace. Xotwithstanding the common belief that the 

 stems ultimately become homogeneous, I have never met with 

 an instance where they have united into a solid trank. It is 

 certainly true that straight stems of great bulk, sometimes 

 12 feet in diameter, are to be seen, but this is only the case 

 when a single root-stem has been formed, or when the speci- 

 men is entirely of terrestrial growth. This may be verified by 

 examining the position of the pith. It is. however, to be 

 noted, that when several stems are given off the pith in each 

 will be found much closer to the side on which the root has 

 been in contact with the supporting tree ; this, however, arises 

 chiefly from the unequal pressure to which the root has been 

 subjected during growth. The roots or stems may bo met 

 with of all heights up to 70 feet, and from 1 to 12 feet in 

 diameter. 



That the habit of the plant is erect, and not scandent, is 

 demonstrated by the young plants in cultivation in onr gar- 

 dens ; ,ind this leads me to mention another peculiarity of this 

 species — viz , a characteristic specimen which has been under 

 cultivation for at least fifteen years without producing flowers 

 may be seen in the grounds of the Hon. .lames Williamson, 

 Remnera. The young cultivated plants are always rigid, erect, 

 and bushy, exactly resembling epiphytic specimens of similar 

 size, or specimens growing on rocks. There is no tendency to 

 a scandent habit, and not until the young plant attains a con- 

 siderable size does it afford any decided indication of a true 

 arboreal stem. It usually produces a few much-branched 

 stems. This has led to the belief that the plant is naturally 

 a shrub, and only becomes a tree when placed in a position to 

 develope ai-rial roots. But the opinion cannot be maintained 

 in presence of the occurrence of large tenestrial specimens in 

 many localities. I am fully prepared to admit their rarity 

 when compared with the abundance of specimens of epiphytic 

 origin ; still the fact remains that in some localities they are 

 frequent enough to attract the special attention of the bush- 

 man, who calls this form the "inland Pohutukawa," a desig- 

 nation he also bestows on symmetrical specimens of the true Po- 

 hntnkawa sometimes found in the forest. These terrestrial 

 specimens of the Rata are usually found in comparatively open 

 places in the forest, while the distorted giants which started 

 in life a-s epiphytes are usually most abundant, and attain 

 their greatest development in the denser parts, a condition 

 which of itself goes far to account for the comparative rarity 

 of terrestrial specimens. Occasionally dwarf specimens exactly 



resembling the young cultivated plants, except that they pro- 

 duce flowers, are found on elevated rocky places, but the cause 

 of their stunted maturity is self-evident. It is uncertain if 

 the aerial root of the Ratus should be considered simply ad- 

 ventitious, or as a special development of the original epi- 

 phytic root, although I am inclined to believe the latter. lu 

 any ca;e the Rata stands alone amongst New Zealand trees in 

 developing stems of large bulk, and affording valuable timber 

 from aerial roots. 



The Pohutukawa (Metrosideros tomentosa) sometimes pro- 

 duces aerial roots from the main trunk, but these are usually 

 small and appressed. Our President has informed me of a 

 remarkable instance on the west coast of the Great Bai'rier 

 Island. The plant grows on the summit of a cliff, and has 

 given off a root, now become an immense stem, which has 

 travelled down the face of the cliff some 60 or 70 feet to seek 

 its nourishment in the soil at the base. The example is s» 

 striking as to have received a special name from the Maoris. 

 The only tree which the Rata seems powerless to injure is the 

 Purlri (Vitex Uttoralis). A fine example, surrounded by three 

 or four large stems, which it has forced outwards at the base, 

 is to be seen on land belonging to Mr. W. C. Daldy, by the 

 Hotea river, Kaipara ; similar instances are rare. 



"While on this subject I may be allowed to remark that our 

 plant (M. robusta) has been largely used of late years in the 

 place of the Pohutukawa for ship-building, it is therefore 

 desirable that the attention of ship-builders and marine in- 

 surance companies should be drawn to the fact that for dura- 

 bility it is inferior to the Pohutukawa, or even to the Rawiri 

 or Tea tree. Should its use be persisted in, considerable dis- 

 credit will in a few years be brought on our shipyards. I have 

 been informed by a well-known ship-builder that although 

 M. robusta is not durable when grown on low land or in 

 gullies, yet when grown on hDl sides it is equally durable with 

 the Pohutukawa. Tho Rata of the south (M. lucida) is not 

 more durable, and has the additional disadvantage of splitting 

 with the slightest blow. It is remarkable that the Pohutukawa 

 and the Kauri, the timbers best adapted for ship-building in 

 the colony, are practically confined to the province of Auck- 

 land, the former only having a single outlying habitat at 

 Waitara m the province of Taranaki. M. robusta appears to 

 have its centre of distribution in the Kaipara district, where 

 it is abundant, and attains a large size. It occurs from the 

 North Cape to Cook's Straits, and has, I believe, been found in 

 the province of Nelson. It is, however, comparatively rare 

 from the Waikato southwards. I am informed by Sir George 

 Grey that only a single specimen is known on the island of 

 Kawau, although it is abundant on the Great and Little 

 Barriers, Waiheke, and other wooded islands in the Hauraki 

 Gulf. — (Extracted from Transactions of New Zealand Insti- 

 tute, Vol. i.) 



WOBK FOE THE WEEK. 



KITCHEN GAKDEN. 



Ekadicate all seed weeds before they shed their seed ; pull 

 them up by hand, as cutting them up with the hoe and allowing 

 them to remain on the ground is nearly as bad as letting them 

 stand, for although the seed may not be ripe at the time, the sun 

 will soon ripen it. I allude particularly to Groundsel, Shep- 

 herd's-purse, and Sow Thistle. The mum cro-p o! .CaiiUflowers 

 for autumn use should be immediately planted on a rich piece 

 of ground. This vegetable, when planted at this season, comes 

 in very useful after the Peas are over. If Oucumbers are re- 

 quired through the winter, seed should now be sown, so as tty 

 have strong plants by ths beginning of September. Carefully 

 attend to those in frames, remove decayed leaves from the 

 plants, and about twice a-week in warm weather give them a 

 liberal supply of water. Where new herb beds are reciuired they 

 may now be made; tho gi-ound should be pi'eviously dug and 

 manured ; slips of some sorts and rooted plants of others 

 should be immediately planted in them. Thin and transplant 

 a sufficient quantity of Lettuces for use; keep them watered 

 during the continuance of dry wenthcr. The early-planted 

 Onions from the autumn sowing will probably be fit to pull up 

 if the weather be fine ; let them lay on the ground a day or two 

 before they are housed, but if showery they had better be laid 

 in an open shed. Let a sowing of Parsleif be made immediately 

 if it was not done at the beginning of the month. If any has 

 been left for seed, let it be gathered as it ripens, or the best of 

 it will be lost. Earth-up and stick tho advancing crops of Peas ; 

 the sticks from the early crops will now be out of use. Plant 

 some Potatoes that have been saved from last year to produce 

 new ones in the autumn. The rows may bo closer togetherthan 

 the spring planting. The Black and White Spanish Radishes 



