66 PLANTS OF NEW ZEALAND 



Crown lands, and the work requires only a light iron rod and 

 a spade. Those who are old hands at the work are quick to 

 discover the best places to dig. When a large tree falls, its 

 roots tear up the earth, and form a mound with a hollow 

 beyond it. By the position of these mounds and hollows, an 

 expert will quickly decide on the direction in which the tree 

 fell. By the size of the mound, he judges the probable height 

 of the tree, and by the height of the tree he guesses the position 

 of the first branch. Then, stepping out this distance, he puts in 

 his spear to find the gum which lay in the forks of the branches 

 when the tree was alive and standing. One of the finest 

 collections of kauri gum has been gathered by a Mr. Eentoul 

 in the Kaipara. These valuable and beautiful specimens are 

 worthy of a fine museum. The Maoris often use pieces of gum 

 to light their fires, or as torches on a dark night. Such 

 torches burn with a bright flame, but give off a dark, heavy 

 smoke, with a strong resinous odour. 



Genus Libocedrus. 



Shrubs or trees. Branches in young plants much flattened ; four-sided when 

 mature. The male flowers form small catkins of 6 or 7 stamens ; the female, 

 small cones of four woody scales. Ovules 2 ; seed winged. A genus of eight 

 species, two in Chili, two in New Zealand, and one each in New Caledonia, 

 Japan, China, and California. (Name from the Greek, signifying the drooping- 

 cedar). 



Libocedrus doniana (The Kawaka). 



A lofty pine, 60-100 feet high, believed at first to be a Dacrydium. Its 

 foliage in the young stage somewhat resembles a fern. The leaves are of two 

 kinds, and are arranged in four rows. This four-sided arrangement is most 

 plainly seen in the mature branches. The male and female flowers occur on the 

 same tree, and are borne on the tips of the branchlets. The cone is in. long, 

 small and woody, containing either two or four seeds. The timber is finely 

 marked, and of a deep red colour, much valued for ornamental work by the 

 cabinet-maker. North Island only : as far south as Hawke's Bay. Native name 

 Kawaka or Ngawaka, often termed New Zealand Arbor vita by the settlers. 



Libocedrus Bid wi I Mi (Bidwill's Libocedrus). 



This is a smaller and more common tree. Its timber is durable and useful , 

 but not so beautiful as that of the Kawaka. It is found in mountain districts in 

 both islands. The tree is often known to the bushmen as the Kaikawaka* 



