ConENso.— Botany of the North Island of New Zealand. 273 
in the higher mountainous grounds, they often form large forests. They 
run from 80 to 100 feet in height, and, according to the species and soil, 
from 3 to 7 feet in diameter. The wood unfortunately is not of great use 
or value as timber, yet is sometimes used for boat-knees and for cask staves. 
That of the black birch, however, is extensively used for fence rails in the 
Province of Wellington, and is said, when well dried, to make good firewood. 
(4.) The pohutukawa (Metrosideros tomentosa) is another large hard- 
wooded tree, of diffuse irregular growth. Its habitat is the immediate sca 
shore of the north parts of the island; where, on rocky headlands and 
cliffs, sometimes pendent, it forms a striking and picturesque object. It is 
very robust, sometimes being 4 or even 5 feet in diameter, but the trunk 
and branches are invariably more or less crooked. Nevertheless it is a very 
valuable tree, especially for ship-building purposes, where its gnarled and 
crooked character make it highly serviceable for timbers, knees, breast-hooks, 
&c.; it is also used for making ship's blocks, and for building piles. This 
wood presents a very handsome grain, a rich rose colour, and a high polish 
when worked up by the cabinetmaker, and choice pieces are in great 
demand. The area, or zone, in which this valuable tree is found being very 
limited, its wood will soon be exhausted unless some means are speedily 
made use of to preserve or economize it. 
(5.) The rata (Metrosideros robusta), a tree very closely allied generically 
to the pohutukawa, is one of the largest of the New Zealand forest trees, often 
attaining a height of 120 feet, of which from 60 to 80 feet form its trunk ; 
which is sometimes very bulky, one having been measured which was 54 
feet in girth. Unlike the preceding, however, it is mostly found inland, at 
a tolerably high elevation, and is pretty general throughout the island. Its 
growth is both regular and irregular, mainly arising from situation and soil. 
Its wood is heavy, red, close-grained, and durable, and is very valuable to 
the wheelwright and to the ship-builder, on account of its strength and 
toughness, owing to the peculiar twisting of its fibres; the roots and 
branches as well as the trunk affording excellent materials for naves, timbers, 
and knees. It is also a handsome wood for the purposes of the cabinet- 
maker, and will answer well for all uses where oak and beech are required. 
(6.) The aka (Metrosideros scandens), although, in bulk, a small tree or 
climber, may also here be noticed, as it not only belongs to the same genus 
with the two preceding, and to the same sub-section, but is also very 
closely allied to them in its qualities and uses. This plant is generally . 
common in all woods, and may be known as a large stout climber ascending 
to the tops of the highest trees, and often hanging like loose ropes from 
them. Like the others of the genus already noticed, it is heavy, close- 
grained, and tough, and is principally used for timbers for boats. 
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