g6 My New Zealand Garden 



of the Kauri is exceptionally good for building 

 in every way, and is very durable, and in Auck- 

 land little else is used for that purpose. The trees 

 are quite confined to the North, but I brought a 

 young one away from its proper latitude just to 

 try. After acquiring the height of 9 or 10 feet, 

 and nearly ripening its first cones, it succumbed 

 to its surroundings. Too big to move, like its 

 neighbour the Rimu, it had but ' Hobson's 

 choice,' to die there or to come out and do it. 

 It was very interesting through all its associations 

 during its sojourn with us. Its leathery-looking 

 leaves give it a curious appearance, especially the 

 young shoots, which are completely brown. 



Lebocedrus doniana is another beautiful tree 

 which belongs strictly to the North, and gradually 

 perished here. 



The Podocarpus (Totara) supplies very valuable 

 timber, ranking next to the Kauri. Posts cut from 

 the heart of it will last in the ground for thirty 

 years. Some of our woods will last an incredible 

 time in the ground. There is a small thin post 

 in the garden which weighs as much as if it were 

 made of stone, and which has successfully resisted 

 both nails and staples, all of which it turned : not 

 one would enter. This wood is called the Black 

 Maire (one of the Oleas), and is almost black in 

 colour, and whilst I was trying to pierce it with 

 hammer and nails I perceived a small red streak 



