16 GROWTH OF NATIVE TREES. 
nage trees averaging ( le, p. 14), at 25 
Against mid-European timber-trees averaging (see tab ,?P , a 
years, 13-2 years per inch of diameter-growth and 0°72 of a foot height- 
growth per year. Then taking the figures from each table :— 
Bisa Sonat = 4:1; or Schlich takes over quadruple the time of 
3°2 Matthews Matthews to obtain lin. of diameter-growth. 
136 Matthews = 1:9; or Matthews nearly double Schlich’s height-growth 
0°72 Schlich in a year. - 
Summary of Growth of Chief Natee Timbers.—Up to twenty-five 
years of age the six most important New Zealand timbers, as grown at 
Mr. Hall’s, averaged 14 ft. in height-growth per year, Rimu being the 
slowest. They took rather over three years to grow lin. in diameter, 
White-pine being the slowest and Puriri the fastest. This is growth par- 
tially in the open, compared with growth in European forest. . The com- 
parison quoted above for Kauri diameter-growth is more reliable since 
that relates to forest-growth in both cases. Thus, compared to the five 
chief European timbers growing under normal conditions in their forest, 
the chief New Zealand trees here show the same thickness in less than 
a quarter of the time, and the same height in practically half the time. 
I have tried to get particulars of the growth of Mr. Hall’s trees to 
date, but he is no longer living, and the identification of the trees is 
now doubtful. 
These figures may be memorized (and it is worth remembering what 
Schlich and Matthews have to say on this vexed question) in the following 
lines :— . 
Taking Schlich for Europe, and Matthews for home trees; 
Its near twice home height and thickness quadruple 
That in young trees one sees, 
The following particulars of growth of native trees are reproduced 
from my inaugural address at the opening meeting of the New Zealand 
Forest League. It was reprinted, but is now out of print :— 
“In the New Plymouth Botanic Gardens (Pukekura Park) is a good 
collection of the native timber-trees of New Zealand. These have been 
planted, and their exact age is now known. The shade and moisture 
conditions are much like those in the native forest. These planted native 
trees are growing at an average rate of 2ft. or 3 ft. per year in height, 
While some of them are growing faster. Thus a graceful Birch-like 
Ribbonwood tree (Plagianthus betulinus) in front of the tea-house is 
25 ft. high at six years of age. A prominent New Zealand Mahogany 
tree (Dysoxylon spectabile) has grown 4 ft. during the past summer. I 
Saw a score or more young Rimu trees growing at the rate of 2 ft. or 
dft. per year, and one thirty-year-old tree making shoots of 3 ft. per 
year. The imported trees, apart from Insignis-pine and one or two 
Enealypts and Wattles, grow no faster, says the Curator, an experienced 
and reliable man. I saw an English Oak and a Puriri of the same 
age growing side by side, the Puriri decidedly the larger tree. Two 
Puriri trees, seven years of age, average 18ft. high. I saw a perfectly 
grown little Kauri I8 ft. high at twelve years of age. Elsewhere in 
New Plymouth is a healthy Kauri tree which at thirty years of age 1s 
9in. in diameter and 38ft. high; and there, of course. Kauri is too 
far south for its best growth. Nevertheless, according to the standard- 
yield tables, an average Scotch-pine in central Europe forests is only 
Sin. to 4in. diameter and 29 ft. high at the same age. Thus here, in 
