SOIL, CLIMATE, AND NATURAL RESOURCES OF NEW ZEALAND.
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SOIL, CLIMATE,
AND
NATURAL RESOURCES
OF
NEW ZEALAND.
The soil, climate, and natural resources of New Zealand, may be best estimated from the rapidity of vegetation--the vast number of rivers, and the robust and healthy appearance of its native productions. All kinds of European vegetables, fruits, and grain, grow with astonishing rapidity. Poultry of every description, and cattle of all kinds fatten and increase rapidly in numbers. The following
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facts, however, it is presumed, will afford satisfactory proofs of the capabilities of the soil; the author, with his own hand, stuck in peach cuttings in the month of June, the size of a goose quill, the growth of which has been so rapid as to bear fruit in the space of eighteen months; he has also sown wheat in the middle of September, and reaped an excellent crop in the first week of January following. There is in this country, large tracts of the finest land, covered with the rankest vegetation, and of every variety of rich soils. The English grasses thrive well. The climate of New Zealand is decidedly temperate; neither exposed to scorching heats in summer, nor to blighting frosts in winter. It is very congenial to European constitutions; those who go there sickly, are soon restored to health; the healthy become robust, and the robust fat. North of the Thames snows are unknown, and frosts are off the ground by 9 o'clock in the morning. The spring and autumn are delightfully temperate, but subject to showers from the W.S.W. The seasons are as follow:--Spring commences in the middle of August, summer in December, autumn in March, and winter in July. Most of the trees and shrubs are evergreens, and vegetation is scarcely if ever suspended, except in the case of exotics. The native grasses flourish throughout the year, and when the fern has been destroyed, furnish an abundant supply of food for cattle; and, perhaps, there is no country in the world better supplied with water of the most excellent quality; indeed, it is not very easy to proceed in any direction, except on the ridge of hills, more than one mile, without having to cross a stream or rivulet of pure freshwater; and I am not aware that any one instance of a failure in the cultivation of wheat has occurred since the attention of Europeans and
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natives were turned to the cultivation of that necessary article of supply.
The natural resources of New Zealand, which are immediately available to foreigners, are her forests of timber and her fields of flax, both of which articles are at present, and will doubtless become of still greater importance to the British nation, and her rising and interesting Colonies of Australia-- of the former of these, there are considerable variety, some that are of excellent quality not only for house-building, but also for the construction of vessels, and masts, and spars for the navy.
The following short account of a few of the principal trees will be found correct:--
1.--The Kauri. (Dammari Australis, or Pinus Kauri.) This tree is of large size, measuring from 85 to 90 feet in height, and from thirty to thirty-six in circumference, and on account of its lightness is admirably adapted for the topmasts of the largest vessels, and for every purpose of housebuilding. Some spars of this species has been sold in London as high as £200 each.
Tanekaha(Podocarpus asplenifolius). This tree grows to the height of 45 feet, and is from eight to ten feet in circumference. It is used for all kinds of outside work, such as door posts and floors for verandahs, and is much sought after.
Puriri. (Vitex litteralis). This tree, from its excellent qualities, has been denominated the New Zealand oak. It grows from fifteen to thirty feet without a branch, and varies from twelve to twenty feet in circumference.
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Towai, (Genus podocarpus), is a heavy, close-grained red wood, answering all the purposes of the New South Wales cedar, but much more durable and heavy. It is from twenty to thirty feet in height.
Pohutukaua. (Callistemon ellipticus). It receives an excellent polish, and is a handsome substitute for rose-wood. It is from sixteen to eighteen feet in height, and from four to five feet in diameter.
Hinau, (dicera dentata), is from sixty to seventy feet in height, and about twenty feet in circumference. The bark of this tree will dye an excellent black, or light brown, or puce colour.
Rata. (Taxus Rata). This is an excellent tree for ship-building, on account of the easiness with which knees may be cut from it. It is a close-grained red wood, and is from twenty to seventy feet in height, and from eighteen inches to seven feet in circumference.
The trade of New Zealand in timber alone, from its general adaptation to building purposes, must, at no distant period, prove a considerable source of revenue to that country.
