OF NEW ZEALAND. 
75 
tility to the land. The prevailing winds are from 
s.w'. to N.W., which, within this range, blow up- 
ward of nine months in the year: more fre- 
quently the wind is due west. During five months, 
sea-breezes set in from either coast, and meet 
each other about half-way across the island. 
The seasons are as follow: — spring commences 
in the middle of August ; summer, in December ; 
autumn, in March; and winter, in July. Most 
of the trees are evergreens ; and vegetation is 
scarcely, if ever, suspended. The native grasses 
flourish throughout the year, and, where the fern 
has been destroyed, afford an abundant supply. 
I am persuaded that all graminivorous animals, 
whether wild or domestic, would thrive well in 
this temperate climate, if allowed to range at 
large in the forests, on the hills, in the valleys, 
or on the plains. 
We have here almost every variety of soil. 
Large tracts of good land, available for the cul- 
tivation of wheat, barley, maize, beans, pease, 
&c. ; with extensive valleys of rich alluvial soil, 
deposited from the hills and mountains, and co- 
vered with tlie rankest vegetation, which it sup- 
ports, summer and winter. We have also a deep 
rank vegetable mould, with a stiff marly sub- 
soil, capable of being slaked or pulverized by 
the ashes of the fern. All English grasses flou- 
rish well; but the white clover never seeds; and, 
where the fern has been destroyed, a strong 
E 2 
