NEW ZEALAND 193 



species of the smaller palms give a touch of the sub- 

 tropics, while the wealth of tree-ferns recalls south- 

 eastern Australia. Stately conifers, however, of species 

 entirely confined to this region the kauri (dammara), 

 the kahikatea (podocarpus), &c., among them give 

 the temperate stamp to the 'Bush'. There are many 

 other huge trees, most of them with leathery, oval 

 leaves. The extreme luxuriance of the forest is due to 

 countless ferns, mosses, and lichens, &c., climbers, creepers, 

 and shrubs, which make progress almost impossible. 

 A specific feature is the absence of bright flowers. 



Towards the south, the small-leaved evergreen beech 

 (called 'black birch') becomes increasingly abundant, 

 and the forest loses much of its profusion, assuming the 

 aspect of the south Chilian beech forest. The evergreen 

 beech only covers the western slopes of the southern 

 Alps. On the opposite side of the range, the rainfall 

 has decreased to 30-40 inches, and the forest remains 

 confined, in an impoverished condition, to the moister 

 gullies. The undulating plain which extends at the foot 

 of the Alps, in spite of a fair rainfall, is so swept by 

 winds as to become comparatively dry. Tree-growth is 

 scattered and low. The plain is covered with a sort of 

 park-prairie or park-steppe, excellent alike for grazing and 

 agriculture : here is the home of the New Zealand flax. 



The natural resources of New Zealand are varied and 

 abundant. The timber is extremely valuable and plen- 

 tiful yet, despite its rapid destruction. Agriculture and 

 grazing are very prosperous. Subtropical and medi- 

 terranean fruits, maize and hard wheat, as well as all 

 our temperate produce, are grown in large quantities. 

 With its healthy climate, and the influx of the white 

 population, it has now come abreast of European com- 

 munities in every respect. The natives themselves, now 



1159.1 O 



