COLONIAL MUSEUM AND LABORATORY.

25

D.—No. 14.

21. —Urenui, New Plymouth.—Mr. R. Parris. —19th September, 1867. Prom uncultivated land, covered with fern. It has been sometimes burnt, and is very lightly stocked. Average depth of surface-soil, 12 to 15 inches ; depth of sub-soil not known. Supposed to rest on pipeclay and sandstone. General features of the country, low undulating hills, 3 miles from the beach. Inland, a range of high forest land. The salts soluble in water consist principally of sulphates of the alkalies, and lime and magnesia; only traces of chlorides. 22. —Cambridge, Waikato (at Piria). —Captain Clare. —25th October, 1867. Uncultivated land. Vegetation, fern. Burnt off about twelve months' back. Not stocked. Average depth of soil, about 10 inches ; sub-soil, 2 feet, resting on a deep bed of sand. Low undulating hill land lying between the Mangakawa Range and the Waitoa River. 23. —Taranaki. —His Honor the Superintendent.—2nd April, 1867. Prom a bush clearing, which has been laid down in grass for about ten years. Collected from several holes, and in each hole a portion was taken, out at various depths, from the surface to 1 foot below it. The organic matter consists of brown peaty matter. The gravel is derived from some volcanic rock. 24. —PuKEARunE, or White Cliefs, New Plymouth.—Mr. R. Parris. —19th September, 1867. Uncultivated fern land. Has been sometimes burnt. Average depth of surface-soil, 18 inches ; of sub-soil, not known. Supposed to rest on sandstone or pipeclay. Features of the country, about half mile of table land, at the back of which are very high ranges, covered with heavy timber and scrub. The salts soluble in water are very similar in quality to those of No. 20, as shown by a qualitative analysis. Fine sand same as No. 28. Sub-soil same composition as No. 28 sub-soil. 25. —Rangiawhia, Alexandra. —Mr. William Jackson. —12th December, 1867. Land sown down with mixed grasses in May, 1866. Previously fern. Stocked with cattle last year. Average depth of surface soil, 12 inches; of subsoil 3to 7 feet; then clay about 20 feet, as shown in a well —porous. Country undulating. Aspect to north and north-east. The land is very porous, although never dry in summer. 26. —Kihi Kihi, Alexandra. —Captain Speedy.—l2th December, 1867. Land uncultivated for some years back. Vegetation, Koromiko, Manuka, and fern. The land has been frequently burnt. Uncertain whether it has been stocked or not formerly. Average depth of surface-soil, 6 inches ;of sub-soil, 30 inches; rests on a stratum of porous yellowish clay. General aspect of country partly undulating. Beds of streams, that is, creeks, generally of a reddish yellow clay, though sometimes consistiug of basaltic boulders. After heavy rains minute layers of iron sand appear on open level ground. 27. —St. John's College, near Auckland. —Hon. Colonel Haultain.—l7th June, 1867. Uncultivated land. Vegetation, low stunted fern or Manuka. Has been often burnt. Is not stocked. Probably never has been cultivated. Virgin soil. Formation on which the soil rests, clay, and very impervious. Features of the country, low undulating hills, very sterile. 28. —Omata, New Plymouth.—Mr. R. Parris. —19th September, 1867. From land that has been cultivated for six or eight years. Formerly the land was cropped with wheat or oats ; but the last four years it has been laid down in English grass. Depth of surface-soil, 6 inches ;of sub-soil 20 feet, resting on soft porous sandstone. Features of the country, pretty level, with low undulating hills and gullies, with small streams. Gives very little turbidity to water. Portion of organic matter is charcoal; greater portion of the remainder is rootlets. 29. —Same character as 27. 30. —KiHi-Kini, Alexandra.— Captain Speedy.—l2tii December, 1867. Uncultivated land. Vegetation entirely fern; has been frequently burnt. Quantities of roots of Matai, though no living trees, are to be seen. Cannot state positively whether it has been cvltivated for any long period, though wheat crops are said to have been raised by Maoris four years ago. Average depth of surface-soil, 8 inches ; of sub-soil, 9 feet, on stratum of whitish clay; below this sand and gravel. Gently undulating plain, intersected by narrow swamps, seldom of any great depth ; claybottom. No traces of Maori cultivation, though here and there stones, evidently collected for cooking purposes, are to be met with. 31. —Hills East of Alexandra. —Captain Tisdall. —12th December, 1867. Uncultivated land. Vegetation, fern 8 feet high; frequently burnt. Charred trunks of matai and other timber lying thickly on surface. Average depth of surface-soil, 18 inches; sub-soil, 8 or 9 feet; little apparent distinction between surface and sub-soils. Fern root penetrates 3to 4 feet. After a depth of from 10 to 12 feet the soil becomes heavier and stiffer, and rests upon a deposit of sand 30 to 40 feet from surface. Country undulating, with small creeks or swamps between the spurs ; these have sandy bottoms. After heavy rain, traces of black sand, apparently iron sand, appear on the surface of the roads in the water channels. 7