358 . The Kaiirie Pine. [Sess. 



orientalis in tlie early part of this century. It may be noted, 

 however, that some authorities have since then classed the 

 whole genus under the name " Agathis " — a change for which 

 I have not as yet discovered a reason. 



In these notes I confine myself to the N'ew Zealand 

 species, Dammara australis, called by the natives " Kaurie," 

 and by the settlers " Cowrie," as being specially interesting 

 to us from the fact that we have had recently importations 

 of its timber, which is being used for cabinet work and 

 panelling, and which will in all probability be in greater 

 demand as its merits become more widely known and 

 tested. In its native wilds, its principal habitats are in the 

 northern parts of the colony, where it is found chiefly in 

 rocky or stony situations, either associated with other trees 

 or forming the prevailing trees in very extensive forests. 

 In order to give an idea of the appearance of these trees as 

 seen at home, I cannot do better than quote a few sentences 

 from a remarkable book recently published by the Govern- 

 ment of the colony, written by Mr T. Kirk, and entitled 

 ' The Forest Flora of ISTew Zealand.' Mr Kirk is an accom- 

 plished botanist, and writes very graphically. He remarks 

 that " the Kaurie is the monarch of the New Zealand woods," 

 and that " though it does not attain the extreme heights and 

 circumference of the Sequoias of California, it rivals them in 

 the excellence of its timber, which possesses a larger number 

 of good qualities than any other pine known to commerce." 

 " The interior of a large Kaurie forest," he goes on to say, 

 " affords one of the most impressive scenes in the colony. 

 Smooth grey trunks rise on all sides like massive columns, 

 perfectly straight and symmetrical, to a height of 80 or even 

 100 feet, with a diameter of 4 feet to 12 feet or upwards. 

 If growing in close proximity to each other, they attain a 

 greater height, but the trunk is less massive, and tapers 

 gradually into a small head. If growing some distance apart, 

 the trunk is of large diameter, with but little difference 

 between the base and the crown. The head of solitary trees is 

 large and spreading, the main arms being sometimes two feet 

 in diameter. The broad, leathery green leaves have a most 

 refreshing appearance in the driest weather, and bear no resem- 

 blance to the needle-like leaves which characterise the pines 



