[Read before the Auckland Institute, 30th June, 1879.]

In autumn, 1866, I planted a variety of trees on a piece of scoria land at the foot of Mount Eden, where I had just built my house, and have now (February, 1879) carefully measured them with the following results. The land was wild scoria land, the surface covered with scoria boulders, the partial disintegration of which had formed soil below, in which were also imbedded scoria boulders. At a greater depth were masses of scoria rock and ash partially decomposed and in many places forming rocky cavities. The surface vegetation was grass and fern. The young trees when planted were from one to two feet high, probably two to three-year-old seedlings. Oaks and other deciduous trees did not thrive, and ultimately died off, except the upright poplar, one badly-grown elm, and the weeping willow. Peach trees grow rapidly and fruit well for a few years (about seven), and then cease to bear. Apple trees grow well and fruit freely for a few years, and then die off from a sort of dry-rot at the roots. Plums, apricots, and cherries do badly in this soil. It will be seen from the annexed table that coniferous trees grow wonderfully in such soil, especially P. insignis and radiata, as also Cupressus macrocarpa, Taxodium sempervirens,