hakeas. The willows have mostly originated from trees planted with a view (generally mistaken) of retaining the hanks of rivers running through alluvial country. From these broken pieces are carried down by the freshes, and quickly take root, forming continuous groves along the margin, and frequently islands in the bed of the stream. Hundreds of miles of river-banks have been clothed in this way in many parts of the country. So far the varieties have been confined to the tall straight osier and the weeping willow; and, although others will doubtless be introduced from time to time, these will probably hold their ground by reason of their large and vigorous growth. The Australian wattles seem to have, been among the first plants imported into the colony. Several species are found about most of the older settlements, where they have flourished and increased as the native bush has died away. The furze, originally used as a hedge plant, and the sweet-briar, probably intended only as an ornamental shrub, have also come to stay, and in many places have taken complete possession of the country, so much so, in fact, as to considerably depreciate the land-value. The common bramble has made an unwelcome appearance in the bush districts north of Auckland, where it threatens to become such a nuisance that the various agricultural societies have already been trying to devise means for its eradication. And in several spots between the Bay of Islands and Whangaroa the hakea is spreading rapidly among the fern and tea-tree, and forming an impenetrable thicket wherever its winged seeds light on a patch of burnt ground. The foreign element has already added a new feature to the forest flora of the country, which will be more and more, conspicuous as the present species spread further afield, and as new ones are introduced.