4 
will be agreeably contrasted with New Zealand forest vegetation ;—but, 
if he should have come hither direct from the sunny skies and islands 
of the tropics, with their graceful perennial light ever-green dress, then 
the New Zealand hills and dells may appear very sombre, and will 
suffer from recollection and comparison, Again: if he should happen 
to anchor in one of the many rivers or harbours north of the Thames,— 
while the ubiquitous brown fern (Pteris esculenta) is everywhere,— 
he will be struck with the appearance of the White Mangrove (A vicennia 
officinalis) growing within the range of the tide, and the romantic 
Pohutukawa (Metrosideros tomentosa) pendant from the cliffs or perched 
on some rocky headland ; and perhaps in someforest not far off the 
stately Kauri Pine (Dammara australis) uprearing its lofty head far 
above all its compeers; but these vegetable characteristics will not be 
found south of the East Cape. 
4, The general appearance of New Zealand vegetation (North Island) 
is not on the whole of a pleasing character. Brown fern-clad plains, 
and low hills sometimes of tolerably regular outline but oftener of all 
rugged shapes and sizes ; and dark-green almost gloomy looking forests, 
yield 
not an agreeable prospect. But, in summer,—when the sombre fern is 
bedecked with the neat flowering mantle of its neighbour, the myriad 
—here extending for many miles, and there in belts or patches, 

blooming Manuka (Leptospermum seoparium), diffusing also its aromatic 
smell with every breeze; and the smaller and much more variegated 
woods, found nestling in deep glens and fringing the watercourses, ex- 
hibit their “‘ ever-changing ever new” forms and summer colours in 
ever-varying lights and shades,—then the New Zealand vegetation ap- 
pears greatly to advantage, 
). Not many of our larger timber trees are either handsome or erace- 
ful in foliage and branching when full grown, although several are both 
while young,—(e. g. the drooping-branched Rimu, ( Daerydiuin eupres- 
sinum,) the graceful fern-plumaged Kawaka, (Thuja Doniana,* ) the 
handsome celery-leaved Tanekaha, ( Phyllocladus trichomanoides, ) the 
elegant poplar-like Rewarewa, ( Knightia excelsa, ) the soft full-foliaged 
Titoki, (Alectryon excelsum,) the ornate 'Tawhai, (7 agus Menziesii, ) 
and, in high alluvial soils, the spreading Tawhai-rau-nui, (Fagus fusca ). 
Yet, what may be absent of beauty and grace is more than supplied in 
size and utility. The huge bulk of some of the vegetable eiants of the 
New Zealand forests, and the clean symmetrical trunks of others 
LR i se ce | Sea 
* Libocedrus Doniana, Hook: f,—Ep, 

