My New Zealand Garden 89 



Bush and hanging in snowy wreaths and clusters 

 in early spring, never fails to attract the attention 

 of all, and is in great request for the decoration of 

 rooms ; but as it often scrambles up to the height 

 of 30 feet, it is rather beyond the grasp of the 

 flower-seeker. 



Leptospermum scoparium, usually called ' Manuka,' 

 is our commonest shrub or small tree. Acres of 

 waste ground are often covered with young plants, 

 their myrtle-like flowers giving a very pretty effect. 

 I had the good fortune to find a red-flowered 

 specimen, which is very rare. Of course, I con- 

 veyed it to my garden, where, under its altered 

 circumstances, I am glad to say, it still retains its 

 rich colour. 



Meryta Sindairii is a very bold foliaged small 

 tree, and although not actually a New Zealand 

 plant, it must not escape mention here. In Auck- 

 land, where it is very much planted, it attains to 

 the height of 20 or 30 feet. It is said to be one 

 of the rarest trees in the world, and, according to 

 the late Professor Kirk, has larger leaves than any 

 of the New Zealand flora. My plant died in an 

 unusually hard frost when only 9 feet high. I was 

 deeply grieved at its death, because, although they 

 belong to an adjacent island to the north, I had 

 just seen one of these trees flourishing and quite 

 20 feet high in Wellington. Alas ! I had omitted 

 to protect mine. 



