Page:Timber and Timber Trees, Native and Foreign.djvu/328

308 cases or tubs in the open, and were greatly admired by the visitors, but, in the winter time, they were removed under shelter.

The specific gravity of the Rimu, when seasoned, is about 678.

THE MIRO TREE (Podocarpus ferrugined)

is found in slightly elevated situations in many of the forests of New Zealand; it prefers shelter and a damp, although not an excessively moist soil, to bring it to perfection. It is of straight growth, and reaches the height of about 60 feet, with a circumference of 5 feet. The stem is clean, and rises to 30 or 35 feet clear of branches, above which they are thrown out nearly horizontally. The foliage is dark-green, very thick, and the leaves are about ⅛th of an inch in width, and 1 inch in length; the fruit is a red berry with a hard stone; it is a favourite food of the wood-pigeon.

The wood varies from light to dark-brown in colour, is close in grain, moderately hard and heavy, planes up well, and takes a good polish. Some logs are nicely figured; it is, therefore, very suitable for cabinet-makers' work, &c. It would also be useful to the turner, and for any ornamental work, and as it yields timber 10 to 18 inches square, and 20 to 30 feet in length, it would, no doubt, be fit for civil architecture.

The specific gravity of Miro in a green state is 1214, but, when seasoned, varies from 660 to 752.

THE TOTARA TREE (Taxus, or Podocarpus totara)

is of erect and straight growth, and attains the height of about 80 to 90 feet, with a circumference of 6 feet. It is tolerably abundant, and is found in many of the forests