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51 men's hats,- far better than the largely imported common "Cabbagetree" hat, and but little inferior to a coarse Leghorn or Manilla one, (as the writer knows from experience.) A serviceable Oil* could be largely extracted from the seeds of the Titoki (Alectryon excelsum); and from the aromatic leaves and bark of the Pukatea (Atherosperma NovaeZelandiae,) a valuable essential oil might also be extracted, seeing that from a closely allied Tasmanian plant (A. moschata), an essential oil, called "Sassafras Oil," has been obtained; and Dr. F. Mueller has recently strongly recommended the bark of that tree as "deserving extensive adoption into Medicine." Several Dye-Lichens are abundant in the Island, viz.- Usnea, Ramalina, and Parmellia, (P. conspersa, saxatilis, parietina, and perlata.) The pure semi-liquid Gum, found in such large quantities at the bases of the leaves of the New Zealand Flax, may yet be collected and form a matter of export; and Zostera, - useful for stuffing matresses, - (the recently proposed substitute in England for manufacturing Paper,) is very plentiful in many of our tidal waters.
29. Having thus briefly noticed the utile, the dulce must not be overlooked; rather, (in the words of Goethe,) - "Let us look closely after the beautiful, the useful will take care of itself." Not a few of the Plants and Ferns of New Zealand have long been cultivated in England, from the time of her first British Visitors, and the number of those plants is annually increasing. Still, several highly ornamental and striking plants, (chiefly confined to forests in the interior, or to subalpine solitudes,) are believed to be unknown both to European and to Colonial Gardens. The most prominent and worthy of them will be now mentioned:- (i.) LARGE SHRUBS, AND SMALL TREES. Pittosporum, several species; Hoheria populnea, and H. Lyallii, with their several strongly marked ornamental varieties; Melicope simplex; Phebalium nudum; Leptospermum ericoides; Myrtus, 2 or 3 species; Ixerba brexioides; Senecio, several sp.; Leucopogon fasciculatus, and its varieties; Dracophyllum latifolium; Librocedrus Doniana, and Dacrydium Colensoi. (ii.) SMALL SHRUBS. Carmichaelia odorata, and C. flagelliformis; Fuchsia procumbens; Alseuosmia, several sp. and vars.; Coprosma, several sp.; Olearia, several sp.; Senecio Greyii; Gaultheria, several sp; Cyathodes Colensoi; Dracophyllum, several sp.; Veronica, several sp.; Pimelea, several sp.; and Cordyline, 2 or 3 species. (iii.) HERBACEOUS PLANTS Rununculus insignis, and R. nivicola, among ____________________________________________________________ * In 1849 the writer sent 2 bottles of this Oil to the Kew Museum of Economic Botany; one was cold-drawn, and the other expressed by heat.
52 the largest species of the genus; Drosera binata; Aciphylla Colensoi; Celmisia, several sp.; Colensoa physaloides; Wahlenbergia saxicola; Gentiana montana, and G. pleurogynoides; Calceolaria Sinclairii; Ourisia, several sp.; Callixene parviflora; Forstera Bidwillii; Helophyllum Colensoi; and several of the peculiar orchideous plants, both terrestrial and Epiphytical.
30. Lastly, of indigenous Medicinal plants and vegetable substances, a few will be here mentioned; - a future time may prove their value.
(i.) Those which have already been usefully tried:- the root of the Harakeke (Phormium tenax,) as an anthelmintic and cathartic; the leaves and bark of the Kohekohe (Dysoxylum spectabile), as a tonic; the roots of the Kareao (Rhipogonum parviflorum,) as an alterative, - this plant is very closely allied to the Sarsaparilla plant (Smilax sarsaparilla,) and its roots have been beneficially used in New Zealand instead of that medicine which is so commonly adulterated (i); the bark of the Houhere (Hoheria populnea,) as a demulcent; the fragrant herb Mentha Cunninghamii, as a diaphoretic; the aromatic leaves of Angelica rosaefolia, as a diuretic and remedial in syphilitic cases; and the roots of Taraxacum Dens-leonis, as an alterative.
(ii.) Those which, from their known natural affinities, are believed to be valuable; from such the following are selected:- the spicy bark of the Horopito (Drimy axillaris,) a species ranking next to the well-known D. Winteri of Cape Horn, which produces the valuable Winter's Bark; the intensely bitter bark of the Kowahi (Sophora, or Edwardsia, grandiflora,)- it is worthy of notice, that both African and East-Indian Kino is produced by plants of an allied genus of the same sub-order;- the leaves of the Wharangi-pirou (Melicope ternata,) - as allied naturally to the genus Diosma, species of which genus produce the well-known Bachu leaves, which the New Zealand Melicope also resemble in taste and smell; - the Kawakawa (Piper excelsum,) - many closely allied species of this genus (and of the next genus Cubeba,) are extensively used as Medicines in various parts of the world;- the aromatic succulent stems and roots of various species of Panax, and of Aralia, - of which genera several species are used in medicine, and the roots of P. Quinque-folium (a plant closely allied to some of our Panaces,) are sold by the Americans to the Chinese for real Ginseng root (P. Ginseng); - the astringent bark and diuretic seeds of Sapota costata; - the roots of the 2 Mountain Gentians, which are just as purely bitter as those of the officinal Gentiana lutea; - the aromatic bark of the Tawa (Nesodaphne
53 Tawa,) a plant belonging to the same Natural Order with those producing the Cinnamon, Cassia, Sassafras, Benzoin, and Camphor of commerce; and, lastly, the Waiwatua (Euphorbia glauca,) may also prove useful as a medicine, seeing so very many species of the same genus have long been medicinally employed.
31. Although the fitness and suitability of many parts of the North Island for producing all Cereals, and Edible Roots and Vegetables, and most European fruits, has long been well-know, and its great fruitfulness proved by its former large exports of the same, -after providing a sufficiency for its own people; still it would scarcely be proper to close this Essay without some reference to such productions. It is greatly to be lamented, that, with the exception of Potatoes, there has been no export of Agricultural produce for the last 3 years; owing, in part, to the war, and to the very great increase of consumers with less producers. For several years, however, before the present war commenced, the export of Cerealia from this Island has been steadily decreasing annually; as the following statement, compiled from official papers, will shew. __________________________ Value in Money, of Grain, (Wheat, Barley, Oats, Maize, and Flour,) and of Potatoes, exported annually from the Provinces of the North Island of New Zealand for the 10 years ending 1862.
Auckland Taranaki Wellington & Hawkes Bay Years Grains &c Potatoes Grains &c Potatoes Grains &c Potatoes £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. 1853 12,495 0 0 18,489 15 0 2,456 10 0 3,078 0 0 1,175 1 9 3,667 0 6 1854 27,589 3 8 35,255 20 0 5,181 16 6 5,076 10 0 6,607 11 6 16,137 13 0 1855 61,194 2 6 44,496 10 0 3,007 0 0 15,168 19 0 5,706 17 0 17,686 9 0 1856 12,934 6 0 11,133 0 0 -- - - 1,200 0 0 5,889 0 0 1,349 0 0 1857 17,884 19 0 8,136 0 0 274 0 0 1,582 0 0 2,575 10 0 6,552 0 0 1858 5,859 14 0 13,043 0 0 552 2 6 4,350 0 0 623 0 0 4,393 0 0 1859 5,087 0 0 6,568 0 0 525 0 0 2,819 0 0 2,643 0 0 240 0 0 1860 1,013 0 0 7,562 0 0 61 0 0 278 0 0 1,228 0 0 2,750 0 0 1861 174 0 0 1,760 0 0 -- - - --- - - 68 0 0 150 0 0 1862 60 0 0 7,445 0 0 -- - - --- - - --- - - 1,942 0 0 ___________________________________________________________________ Totals£144,291 5 2 153,888 15 0 12,057 9 0 33,552 9 0 26,516 0 3 54,837 2 6 ___________________________________________________________________
54 (The quantity of Potatoes exported from Auckland in 1863 was 508 tons, value, £3,233.* It is believed, that this falling off is mainly owing (apart from the war,) to much too little attention being given to tillage; which noble and necessary occupation is neither followed nor encouraged as it should be. At present, this Island is greatly too dependent on foreign countries for Grain; which is now being brought not only from Australia and Chili, but even from California and England! It is hoped, that this growing evil may be clearly and timely discerned, and put a stop to; or, the consequences resulting therefrom may, some day, be unexpectedly and highly disastrous to the whole Island.
32. It is also believed that a future generation will derive great advantages from the extensive cultivation of certain plants which cannot be successfully cultivated in the open air in Great Britain, some of which have been already naturalized in this Island; -such as, the Vine, the Mulberry, the Castor-oil plant (Ricinus communis,) the Olive (Olea Europaea,) the Cochineal Cactus, (Opuntia, sp.,) the Tobacco, and the Maize; - the last both for the sake of its spathes and leaves for Paper-making, (for which it seems admirably adapted,) as well as for its grain. The Northern parts of this Island, -especially the warm climate and rich volcanic soils north of the Thames, - will, doubtless, produce Wine and Oil in abundance, and, perhaps, Silk; as the climate is well known to be suited to the Mulberry; and the European Olive might be advantageously grafted upon the several indigenous Olives of the island. Further: it is not improbable, that Cochineal, Cinchona, and Coffee, may also be successfully cultivated in the warm climate of the Northern districts; seeing these two last mentioned plants have very near Botanical relations in the many species of the genus Coprosma, everywhere common and flourishing among us. Those parts of the Island possessing Limestone soils, and, at the same time, not below the necessary isotherm, seem admirably adapted for raising Tobacco; a plant, which, like Clover and Lucerne, requires a deal of Lime in the soil to bring it to perfection; its ashes containing more than 20 per cent. of Lime and Magnesia Salts. - While the more equable and temperate climate and rich alluvial soils of the Southern parts of the Island, will also continue to produce and export as heretofore, all British Grain, and Fruits, and Edible Roots, very abundantly.- "His segets, illie veniunt felicius uvae; Arborei fetus alibi, atque injussa vireseunt Gramina." - - VIRG. GEORG. l.i. _______________________________________________________________ * No potatoes were exported in 1863 from the other Provinces of the North Island. Ed.
55
NOTES.
Par. 6. Note, a. - Hoheria poulnea: the Botanist Allan Cunningham, (who first visited this North Island of New Zealand in 1826, and who created this genus,) was an accurate and enthusiastic observer of Nature; he thus characteristically and truly notices the beauty of this tree, in drawing up its generic character, (published in 1836,) - "Arbuscula, spectabilis, sempervirens et maxime ornata in sylvis naturalibus iis." - Ann. Nat. Hist., vol. iii. p. 319.
Par. 8. Note, b. I had also drawn a third division, or classification, of many of the plants of the North Island, according to its geognostic formation; but I have been obliged to abandon it, chiefly through want of space. No doubt, hereafter, it will be both interesting and useful to show the geognostic habitats of the various species, - whether on Clay or Alluvial Soils, - on Limestone, Sandstone (Palaeozoic,) or Volcanic formations, &c. I feel assured, that much more attention is absolutely needful to this branch of the science than has hitherto been given it, as a necessary step towards the solving of the great problem concerning the Distribution of Plants. I remember well (in 1845) being forcibly struck with seeing certain Bay-of-Islands plants, (e.g. Metrosideros scandens, Gaultheria antipoda, Cordyline stricta, Lindsaea linearis, Lycopodium volubile, &c.,) on the clayey hills near Wellington. - Plants, which I had not before seen south of the Thames. I may also mention that, in 1844, Dr Hooker published (in the "London Journal of Botany," vol III,) the names, &c., of a Collection of 123 Plants made in the neighbourhood of Wellington by a visitor, of which number only 2, or perhaps 3, were not identical with the Bay of Islands plants. Hence arose a suspicion, that the North Island of New Zealand possessed but few species, seeing that the same plants were collected in latitudes so far apart. But the fact is, that the same geologic features obtain on those hills, as at the Bay of Islands, although but rarely intermediate. And many of those species (as far as I know,) are not elsewhere found between 36º South and Cook's Straits.
Par. 12. (i) Note, c. The Pohutukawa (Metrosideros tomentosa) is truly a littoral plant; and yet (in 1841,) I detected it growing on the Sandstone rocks of the high inland lake Waikare, about 70 miles from the sea; and I find, from Dieffenbach, (vol. i. p. 384,) that he too had observed it growing on the trachytic cliffs of the inland lake Tarawera, (1075 feet alt., apud Hochstetter,) at about the same distance from the sea.
Par. 12. (ii.) Note, d. The Karaka (Corynocarpus Laevigata) is naturally a coast plant; but it is sometimes found growing in the interior, in clumps or singly, - particularly in the more Northern parts, and on the shores of lake Taupo, - where it has been planted as a fruit- bearing tree by the New Zealanders.
Para. 13. (iii.) Note, e. "Fagus fusca has not been seen north of Poverty Bay" In 1839, however, I visited a small isolated wood of Fagus at the head of Whangarei Bay, but failed in getting any fruiting specimens. That plant, from its vernation, is believed, by the writer, to be a different species, or, at all events, a marked variety. (Vide, "London Journal of Botany", vol III., p. 20) The same tree grows also near Kaitaia Mission Station, North of 35º South. By the Northern Natives, it is called Hutu.
Par. 16, Note, f, Dr. Sparmann seems scarcely to have been done justice to; no New Zealand plant bears his name. G. Forster, however, in his "Voyage round the World, (vol. i. p. 67, 4to. ed., speaking of his father and himself, while collecting specimens at the Cape, on their voyage out with Captain Cook,) says - "Our abundant harvest gave us the greatest apprehensions that with all our efforts, we alone would be unequal to the task of collecting, describing, drawing, and preserving (all at the same time) such multitudes of species, in countries where every one we gathered would in all probability be a nondescript. It was therefore of the utmost importance, if we meant not to neglect any branch of natural knowledge, to endeavour to find an assistant well qualifed to go hand and hand with us in our undertakings. We were fortunate enough