(56 PLANTS OF NEW ZEALAND 



C'L'OWii lands, and tlie work requires only a light iron rod and 

 a spade. Those who are old hands at the W(.)rk are quick to 

 discover the hest places to dig. When a large tree falls, its 

 roots tear u[) the earth, and form a mound with a hollow 

 hevond it. By the position of these mounds and hollows, an 

 expert will quickly decide on the direction in which the tree 

 fell. By tlie size of the mound, he judges the probable height 

 of the tree, and hy the height of the tree he guesses the position 

 of the first branch. Then, stepping out this distance, he puts in 

 his spear to find the gum which lay in the forks of the branches 

 when the tree was alive and standing. One of the finest 

 collections of kauri gum has been gathered by a Mr. Rentoul 

 in the Kaipara. These valuable and beautiful specimens are 

 worthy of a fine museum. The Maoris often use pieces of gum 

 to light their fires, or as torches on a dark night. Such 

 torches burn with a bright flame, but give off a dark, heavy 

 smoke, witli a strong resinous odoiu'. 



Gen UH LibocedruH. 



Shrubs or trees. Branches in young ph^nts much fiattcned ; four-sided when 

 mature. The male flowers form small catkins of 6 or 7 stamens ; the female, 

 small cones of four woody scales. Ovules 2 ; seed winged. A genus of eight 

 species, two in Chili, two in Now Zealand, and one each in New Caledonia, 

 Japan, China, and California. (Name from the Greek, signifying the drooping 

 cedar). 



Libocedrus doniana (T]ie Eawaka). 



A lofty pine, 60-100 feet high, believed at first to be a Dacrydium. Its 

 foliage in the young stage somewhat resembles a fern. The leaves are of two 

 kinds, and are arranged in four rows. This four-sided arrangenrent is most 

 plainly seen in the nrature branches. The male and female flowers occur on the 

 same tree, and are borne on the tips of the branohlets. The cone is iin. long, 

 small and woody, containing either two or four seeds. The tinilier is finely 

 marked, and of a deep red colour, nruch valued for ornamental work by the 

 cabinet-maker. North Island only. Bay of Islands, Hokianga. Native name 

 Kau'tikd or Ngniviika, often termed New Zealand Arbor vitic by the settlers. 



Libocedrus Bidwillii (Jiidiri.H'.s Lihoced nis) . 



This is a smaller and more common tree. Its timber is dur;iblc and useful, 

 but not so beautiful as that of the Kawaka. It is found in mountaiu districts in 

 Ijoth islands. The tree is often known to the bushmen as the Kaikawaka, 



