54 My New Zealand Garden 



beyond * cooee ' or call. My fears are put down to 

 broken nerves, but I think they are more connected 

 with common-sense. However, I am thankful to 

 say that one seldom, almost never, hears of anyone 

 being really lost in the Bush ; yet, with those who 

 are not blessed with experience, and who do not 

 know what precautions to take, it could be so 

 easily done. 



Fern-seekers would have little or no sport in 

 the depths of the Bush, but just inside, it is 

 deeply carpeted with Ferns, sometimes interspersed 

 with Antler-fern (Lycopodium volubile), spread- 

 ing its creeping stems over 10 feet in length. I 

 venture to say that lunch or afternoon tea cannot 

 be enjoyed amid better surroundings, entirely free 

 from snakes and other vile reptiles. It is difficult 

 to believe that such hushed and untrodden soli- 

 tude should be free from every loathsome, creepy, 

 crawly creature. 



Our beautiful and curious sights are not con- 

 fined to the Bush, as all know ; but as I seldom 

 leave my plants, I have not much to describe here. 

 The scenery on the Wanganui River is very good : 

 the banks are high and steep, and thickly clothed 

 with native evergreen, interspersed with Tree-ferns, 

 occurring so thickly in places that one might 

 almost describe them as growing in sheets. Now 

 and again lovely little peeps of back scenery seem 

 to pass by in panoramic style between the hills in 



