240 



Nos. 5 and 6 are isolated districts, the latter, in a great measure, cut off 

 from the general Flora by a peninsula of sand-hills, nearly 70 miles in length. 



7. Kaitaia, 



8. Hokianga. 



The general facies of the vegetation over the whole is alternately bush, 

 and open scrubby or fern land ; there being very little natural grass land, 

 the largest area being that at the North Cape, and even there the prevailing 

 species are not indigenous to New Zealand. The whole country has been, at 

 no distant time, covered by bush, which, no doubt, has been partially cleared 

 off by fires, as extensive denudation by this means is still in progress. 



The most of the open land yields Kauri gum, which is obtained by digging 

 for a few feet beneath the surface, thus proving the Kauri pine (Pammara aus- 

 tralis) to have formerly been the prevailing species of tree. It might be safely 

 inferred from this fact alone, that a soil capable of producing such heavy forest 

 growth, should now yield heavy crops of other kinds ; and so it would under 

 conditions of sufficient moisture. 



In addition to the known influence of trees, in drawing more frequent 

 rains, evaporation is also checked, but dry soils, such as the Kauri gum land 

 of Auckland, or the Manuka land of Otago, are always more easily burned in 

 dry seasons ; and as, with every additional area added to the open country, the 

 whole will become more arid, it may in the end defy all improvement, even 

 with the aid of agricultural science. In the meantime, it is probable that the 

 prevailing idea that this open land is barren, may be an error ; but the principal 

 reason for this idea is its aridity ; it is a question therefore of some importance 

 whether further extensive denudations of bush may not render the country 

 positively barren, except in valley bottoms. 



As in other parts of New Zealand, the greatest extent of the open land in 

 the northern district of Auckland, is found on the east coast. Much of it is 

 covered by fern (Pteris esculenta), but more commonly the vegetation is mixed, 

 including Leptospermum scoparium, L. ericoides, Pomaderris elliptica, P. 

 phylicifolia, Bracophyllum Urvilleanum, Coriaria ruseifolia, Leucopogon 

 Jasciculatum, Weinmannia sylvicola, Gleichenia circinata, Epacris paueijlora, 

 Phormium tenax, with smaller plants of the Orders Lycopodiacese, Cyperaceae, 

 Grasses and Ferns. 



The bush is rich in fine species, many of which are found only in the 

 northern half of the North Island, although a few may push stragglers further 

 south ; the following are prominent species : — Dammar a australis, Nesodaphne 

 Tarairi, Vitex littoralis, Avieennia tomentosa, Metrosideros tomentosa, 

 Tetranthera calicaris, Sapota costata, Ixerba brexioides, Quintinia serrata, 

 Pittosporum umbellatum, P. Kirkii, P. Huttoniana, Phebalium nudum, 

 Phylloclades trichomanoides, Colensoa physaloides. 



Such is the sameness of conditions of plant-growth over this northern 

 part of New Zealand, that the vegetation may be classed under two Zones, 

 Littoral, and Interior. No sufficient altitude existing to produce any 

 change worthy of notice. On Maungataniwha (2700 feet), the greatest 

 elevation in these districts, the bush covering the top, is not stunted in growth, 

 which is the first thing noticed on ascending a mountain, if change is produced 

 by altitude. Again on Taratara Hill, inland from Wangaroa Bay, where a 

 portion of the summit is open land, the vegetation is identical with that of the 

 lower levels. 



As I have had an opportunity of comparing the vegetation at the extremes 

 of latitiide in New Zealand, I may state that many prominent species range 

 over the whole islands ; of such are, Myrsine Urvilleanum, Aristotelia racemosa, 

 Myoporum Icetum, and the more important species of the Natural Order 



