Some years ago, Dr. Carl Fischer raised kauri seedlings in a very clever way. Bamboo canes from fruit cases were cut in lengths of 5 or 6 inches, placed upright in a boarded case, and filled with earth. The seed sown in them germinated well. There was no difficulty in transplanting, as bamboo and seedling could be put into the ground together. What became of these seedlings I never learnt. The trees in the Government Domain, planted by Mr. Chalmers, domain-keeper, show by their growth that the kauri may be classed amongst profitable trees. Puriri comes next; the demand for this timber is every year increasing, also its value. Comparison between the tables of 1872 and 1885 shows that, although the trees increased slowly in height after 20 years, the succeeding 13 years have added a good deal to their bulk. The value given is estimated at the present price of fencing-posts and house-blocks.

Puriri when young is subject to be killed by frost. It thrives best on hill sides, and the more surrounded by other trees the better. When planted the stem should be cut off 6 inches above the ground; two or three shoots will result, and grow straight up. When fit for poles one or more can be cut, leaving the best for timber. I have examined a great many transplanted puriris and have not found any appearance of makaroa, the worm which bores the tree in its native forest.

I place pohutukawa next in value. No tree is easier raised; hundreds of plants can be obtained from sandstone cliffs, and nine out of ten will grow. Its rate of growth is rather slower than that of puriri, as also its rate of bulk increase. When thoroughly dried it is a durable wood, and in withstanding concussion I think it is superior either to puriri or oak.

Totara is now being taken care of by settlers, as it comes up in many places spontaneously. My record goes back only 20 years, too short a period to form an opinion.

Tanekaha, in many places, is being ruthlessly destroyed for the sake of its bark. For this reason it may be a valuable tree.

Titoki will serve to fill up a plantation; its slow growth will perhaps be compensated by its usefulness in the manufacture of tool-handles, etc. Warengapiro, a cabinetmaker's scented wood, will serve also to fill up. Its growth is very slow; its foliage never yields to the strongest gale. The demand for this wood will increase.

Of matai, towhai, and mairi, particulars are not given.

Of our English trees, oak claims precedence. The oaks in the Government House grounds are the oldest in the Provincial District. The acorns were sent from Sydney, and sown by Mr. Cleghorn, Superintendent of Public Works, in the Government Gardens in 1841 or 1842. The seedlings were planted out in 1844 or 1845, so that these trees are 40 years old. Beautiful as they are, these trees have been neglected for timber purposes;

most of them have trunks not exceeding 7 feet in length, fit only for coopers' staves or firewood. An observer will, however, notice that where the trees were thickly planted, there the butts are longer, and give hope of timber.

Excepting a few easily found, the oaks in the Domain were planted by Mr. Chalmers, domain-keeper, 22 years ago. These 22-year-old trees are equal in height to those in the Government House grounds of 40 years, and have barrels varying from 18 to 25 feet in length; and if attended to, which, I regret to say, is not the case, these trees promise valuable timber. A few years since the Press threw a deal of small ridicule on an old colonist, then a member of the Domain Board, and invented the term “Mitfordise.” Time, however, proves that Mr. Mitford was right, and planters will do well to follow his system of trimming off lower branches, so as to produce straight trunks. The best mode of raising oaks is to sow acorns five or six in a place, thin out, and leave one to grow.

The elm flourishes in gullies or low sheltered lands. It is a greedy feeder, and (as will be seen in the table) attains a height of 50 feet in 33 years. When more extensively grown, it will supply a substitute for puriri for railway sleepers. Good examples of wych elms can be seen at Mr. Westwood's, Remuera, planted for shelter and ornament. Their timber capability has been neglected.

Of pines, I have selected two only, the Maritina and Stone pine, which yield good timber; that of the Insignis, so much planted for its beauty and quick growth, is useless, save for firewood. These, sparingly mixed, should form part of every plantation. Some beautiful Stone pines, well trimmed and attended, will be found at Mr. Dilworth's, Remuera, but I am not able to give their age.

The table of 1885 includes two kinds of fruit-bearing yet forest trees, well deserving attention, the walnut and the olive.

The oldest walnut tree in or near Auckland is at Mr. T. Osborne's, Manukau Road, Newmarket. It came from Hobarton in 1842, was planted by the Rev. Walter Laury's tenant, and has been cared for by Mr. Osborne for the last 38 or 39 years. From this tree, and from five others raised from its nuts, Mr. Osborne derives a revenue of £20 a year, £3 6s. 8d. a tree; the estimated value of the tree will be £5. The walnut bears fruit eight years after sowing the nut. If proper care be taken, its butt will rise to 12 feet, a handsome tree, producing a yearly crop, and its timber valuable in the market of the world. The walnut will not flourish on retentive soils, but grows freely on volcanic land, and probably on stony land.

The Olive. The oldest examples of this tree are to be found at Brookside, Parnell, planted by the late Colonel Matson about the year 1848. Growing on sloping ground on a clay soil, these