Cheeseman. — On Naturalized Plants of Auckland District. 271 



With the above facts before us, we are better able to enquire into the 

 general subject of the naturalization of plants in New Zealand and to 

 attempt an answer to the question why the native vegetation should ap- 

 parently be unable to hold its own against the numerous intruders stream- 

 ing in on every side. In considering the subject, it appears to me most 

 important to bear constantly in mind that the conditions of plant-life now 

 prevailing in New Zealand are in great measure different to those that 

 existed when European voyagers first visited its shores. When Cook 

 landed here the whole country was covered with a dense native vegetation, 

 hardly interfered with by man. The cultivations of the Maoris were small 

 in area, and as they rarely tilled the same plot of ground for many years in 

 succession, preferring to abandon it when the soil showed signs of exhaus- 

 tion and to make new clearings elsewhere, there was little chance of the 

 establishment and gradual development of a race of indigenous weeds. In 

 fact, it can be roundly said that the New Zealand Flora contained no such 

 class. At that time there were no herbivorous animals of any kind, either 

 wild or domesticated, to graze upon the vegetation, or to interfere with it 

 in any way. Thus no check existed to the growth of many species which 

 can now hardly live in a district where our introduced cattle are abundant. 

 And the repeated burning off, year after year, of large tracts of open 

 country, was then a circumstance almost unknown. The Maori rarely 

 wantonly destroyed the vegetation, and if he used fire in making his new 

 clearings generally took precautions that it should not spreadr further than 

 was absolutely required. It is hardly necessary to dwell longer on this 

 point ; for all must admit that the advent of European settlers and the 

 colonization of the country have brought into operation a set of conditions 

 injurious to both the indigenous fauna and flora. The chief of these con- 

 ditions may be conveniently grouped under three heads : — first, the actual 

 destruction of the vegetation by the settlers to make room for their cultiva- 

 tions, or in the construction of roads, or in the cutting down of the forests 

 for timber, etc., etc. : — second, the introduction of sheep, cattle and horses 

 and their spread over the greater part of the country : — third, the practice, 

 now very generally followed, of burning off the vegetation in the open dis- 

 tricts at regular intervals. 



If the above facts are duly considered there will not be so much cause 

 for wonder in the introduction and rapid spread of so many foreign plants. 

 For instance, it might be expected that the weeds of our corn-fields and 

 pastures — which now form such an important and conspicuous element in 

 the naturalized Flora — would be almost wholly composed of introductions 

 from abroad. The native Flora possessed few plants suitable for the places 

 they have taken, and these few could hardly compete with a chance of 



