BOTANICAL NEWS. 159 



is well adapted for beams and framework ; and the " matai " (Podu- 

 carpus spicata) is so durable that a prostrate tree found in damp 

 bush, and supposed to have been there for a couple of centuries, still 

 retained its soundness when cut up. The above are a few of the 

 trees brought into general use, but there are a vast number of 

 others which will become equally valuable when it is better known 

 when to cut and how to season them. Of plants introduced there 

 are quite a host which thrive well out of doors. At Sir George 

 Grey's seat, on the Island of Kawan, quite a brilliant assemblage 

 have been successfully raised. Among others, the coral tree 

 (Erythrma caffm), with its brilliant scarlet flowers; Fourcroijia 

 liujantea, which produces a fine fibre, and grows well without any 

 cultivation on the waste clay hills ; also F. ftavoviiidis, another 

 fibre-yielding plant. Chamawps excels, C. humiU*, Musa te.vtilis, 

 and M. sapimitum, equally thrive, the Banana ripening good fruit. 

 broiissonetia pajn/rifira, from which paper is made in Japan, the 

 pomegranate {I'unica grahatum) and the olive (Olea europea) here- 

 after are likely to become important as commercial products. The 

 ■Natal plum (Arduina giandiflora) , the fig (Ficus Cartel «««*«"*! 



apple (Annua muricata), Eriobotn/a japoniea, ginger 

 officinalis), the tallow tree (Still ingia sebifera), cinnamon, i ^^, 



°ff Xn § e ' * emou > aU( * ci^ons, besides many other sub tropical plants, 

 afiord sufficient proof of the mildness "of the climate and capa- 

 bilities of the country ultimately to depend on its own resources, 

 vi araucarias and pines, a great number of introduced species have 

 thriven well, some only requiring a little shelter at first. Oaks, 

 elms, poplars, &c, all take naturally to the New Zealand soil, but 

 sufficient has been said to indicate the great variety of flora 



indigenous and introduced into this flourishing though distant 

 colony. & & 



Botanical Nttos. 



-Dr. Bayley Balfour has returned from Socotra, bringing with 

 nun a large collection of living and dried plants ; he has suffered 

 jrom an attack of fever, but is otherwise in good health. Dr. 

 rsaiiour has ascended to the summit of one of the highest peaks 

 01 the island, which reach an altitude of 5000 feet, and his 

 Dotamcal collections consist of about 6000 species, including full 

 is] ? l f ° r the determiu 'ition of the Aloe and Dracaena which the 



com 1 1 * f °* SOme t * me k eeu ^ nowu to P rocmce > but of which 

 plete specimens have never been procured. 



-r , Th ? editorship of the brvological portion of Just's ' Botanische 

 ^aii.resbericht ' has been entrusted to Dr. F. Kienitz Gerloff, of 

 ^uburg, who will be glad to receive any publications relating to 



of tl E R ^ - ad to be able to announce that through the liberality 

 e -"I'azihan Government arrangements have been made for the 



