DACRYDIUM CUPRESSINUM. 31 
The heartwood has been used to a large extent for railway sleepers. When 
obtained from old trees, without any admixture of sap, it has been found sound 
and in good condition after being in use for six or seven years. Heartwood from 
young trees is less durable, and sapwood perishes very quickly. When saturated 
with creosote it will doubtless afford satisfactory results. 
On account of its great abundance rimu is often used for fencing purposes, 
but the results are not encouraging. Posts split entirely from the heartwood of 
old trees remain in a sound condition from four to eight years, but usually decay 
begins within three years. Rails continue sound for a longer period, but soon 
become brittle. It should not be used for this purpose when other kinds can be 
procured, 
It is extensively used by the cabinetmaker in the manufacture of furniture 
of all degrees of excellence. Large knots and burrs and pieces with exceptionally 
fine markings are converted into veneers. 
Rimu bark is often used by the tanner, and is valued for certain qualities of 
leather, although it imparts a red colour to the skin. Its percentage of tannin is 
low, being only 4°3 per cent.; but in Southland and other districts, where the 
timber is extensively converted, the bark can be delivered at the tan-yards for 
little more than the cost of cartage. There can be but little doubt that the 
manufacture of an extract from this and other common tannin-barks would 
speedily afford a profitable article for export and home use alike ; while another 
opening would be afforded for the remunerative employment of labour. 
The tops of the young branches were used by Captain Cook to manufacture 
spruce beer for his sailors, but, so far as I am aware, it is not used by the 
settlers for this purpose. Mr. Colenso states that the ripe fruit was eaten by 
the Maoris. 
Rimu is of very slow growth. Specimens planted in the Auckland Domain 
in 1867 do not exceed 18ft. in height, although growing under favourable 
conditions. 
DISTRIBUTION OF THE GENUS. 
Dacrydium comprises about twelve species, of which no fewer than seven 
are restricted to New Zealand; one, the famous Huon pine, is found in Tas- 
mania. The others are distributed through New Caledonia, Fiji, the Malay 
Archipelago, and Borneo. 
DISTRIBUTION OF THE SPECIES, 
Dacrydium cupressinum is found throughout the colony, extending to Stewart 
Island, but does not occur either on the Auckland or Chatham Islands. It 
is less plentiful in the Auckland District than in other parts of the colony; 
and is especially abundant in the northern parts of Marlborough, the south- 
western portion of Nelson, in Westland, Southland, and Stewart Island, extending 
to the South Cape. 
It ascends from sea-level to 2,500ft. 
DESCRIPTION, 
Dacrydium cupressinum, Solander. 
An evergreen dicecious tree, 50ft. to 8o0ft. high or more, with weeping 
branches; trunk, 2ft. to 4ft. in diameter, with reddish-brown or grey bark, which 
falls off in large scales. Leaves rigid, awl-shaped or trigonous, closely over- 
lapping all round the branches, ;yin. to 4in. long. Male flowers in inconspicuous 
green catkins at,the tips of erect branchlets. Females solitary at the tips of 
