Poise FA Be 
Tue preparation of a descriptive account of the economic trees and shrubs 
comprised in the New Zealand flora was authorised by the Hon. John Ballance, 
late Minister of Lands, and confirmed by his successor in office, the Hon. G. 
Richardson. The primary objects of the work are to diffuse a knowledge of the 
forest resources of the colony—to describe the chief methods of working and 
conversion employed, and to establish a uniform series of common names. The 
last object, especially, is one of considerable importance, as, owing to the loose 
manner in which common names are generally employed in the colony, timbers 
of but little value are frequently used instead of the kinds specified, often 
causing needless expenditure and great inconvenience. One instance may be 
mentioned here: At least a dozen kinds of small-leaved trees are termed 
‘‘birch,’’ with the prefix ‘‘ black,”’ ‘‘ white,” ‘‘red,” “ brown,”’ ‘‘ grey,”’ or even 
“yellow”? applied, as the imagination of the bushman may suggest, scarcely 
any two bushmen being agreed as to the correct application of the qualifying 
term, while architects and contractors for the most part are but little better 
informed. The brown-birch of Otago is the white-birch of Nelson; the white- 
birch of Westland, again, is a totally different tree; the black-birch of Auck- 
land is termed red-birch in Wellington, brown-birch in some parts of Nelson, 
while in Otago it appears to be termed indifferently black-birch or red-birch. 
Other cases where similar confusion exists will be found recorded in various 
parts of this work. 
The plan of the work may be briefly stated. A separate account is given 
of each species—the head-lines stating the systematic name, the Native name, 
or in some cases a common name, which may be substituted with advantage ; 
also the name of the natural order to which the plant belongs, with a reference 
to the plate on which it is represented. 
The first portion of the text contains historical information and other 
particulars of general interest connected with the plant, an account of its 
dimensions, habit of growth, &c., and a more or less detailed statement of the 
structure of the flower and fruit, devoid of technicalities. This is followed by a 
concise account of its Properties and Uses, and, in the case of the more 
important kinds, the mode of working the forest, conversion, commercial value, 
&c. A brief statement is given of the Distribution of the Genus, and a more 
detailed account of the Distribution of the Species. The article is completed 
by a botanical description of the species and an explanation of the plate. In 
most cases enlarged representations of the parts of the flower and fruit are given 
to facilitate identification. 
NaTivE AND Common NaMEs. 
Considerable difficulty has been experienced in ascertaining the Native 
names of many species, and it can scarcely be hoped that all errors have been 
avoided. Mr. Colenso and Maori scholars generally have borne testimony to the 
precise application of names to plants and other natural objects by the older 
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