94 



tree. 



Forster, Be plaiitis Esackiitis Insularum OceaniAus trails, p, 80, gives the following account of this 

 " This beautiful Genus allied to Tax2cs, whose flowers I have not seen, received the name of 



r 



Bacrydium from the illustrious Solander. It is found in New Zecland, where Cook, from the younger 

 branches giving out a bitter resinous juice, prepared a liquor similar to beer, called Spruce, and like 

 that beverage, also excellent in scorbutic disorders; but, drank on an empty stomach, it produces 

 nausea and giddiness, which however go off in a short time." 



The same author in his relation of Captain Cook's Voyage, page 130, also thus speaks of it. 

 " The Spruce of New Zeeland is a very beautiful tree, and conspicuous on account of its pendent 

 branches, which are loaded with numerous long thread-like leaves, of a vivid green. It frequently 

 grows to the height of fifty or sixty, and even one hundred feet, and has above ten feet in girth." 



Three species have been discovered in New Zeeland, which are among the unpublished figures 

 of the Right Hon. Sir Joseph Banks, one of which, called Bacrydium taxifolium, is mentioned in 

 Captain Cook^s first Voyage, by Hawksworth, vol. iii, p. 441, as '' growing in swamps, remarkably tall 

 and strait, thick enough to make masts for vessels of any size, and, if a judgment may be formed by the 

 direction of its grain, very tough: this which, as has been before remarked, our carpenter thought to 

 resemble the Pitch Pine, may probably be lightened by tapping, and it will then make the finest masts 

 in the world: it has a leaf not unlike a yew, and bears berries in small bunches." I received fine spe- 

 cimens of the branches of this tree from Governor Phillip, who procured them from New Zeeland by 

 a vessel which touched there from New South Wales, but without either flowers or fruit, so that I am ' 

 unable at present to give a figure of this interesting tree. 



Tab, 41 is taken from fine specimens of Z). cupresdniim collected by Mr. Menzies, who very obligingly 

 communicated them to nie, and was coloured by permission of Sir Joseph Banks, from a beautifhl 

 drawing made by Sydney Parkinson, in his celebrated voyage with Captain Cook. 



EXPLANATION OF TAB. 41. 



a. Male Catkin. 



A. The same magnified. 



B. Scale with antheras magnified. 



c. End of a branch, with fruit. 



C. The same, magnified. 



d. The fruit. • 



D. The same, magnified. 



D. The same, with part of the receptacle cut away to shew the insertion. 



L 



Since writing the former part of this work, I have noticed one of the finest trees of Pinus Cembra 

 m the kingdom, growing at Bcckenham Park/ the seat of John Cator, Esq. given to the late Mrs. Cator 

 by the celebrated Peter CoUinson her father. 



P 



