In our last paper we were necessarily bound within certain limits, as we were anxious to represent a garden rather than the climatic influences of the country. We will now return to the subject, and endeavour to treat it in a more liberal manner. Our summer months, which include December, January, and February, are characterised by great heat and dryness. Often not a drop of rain falls for six or eight weeks : the ground then becomes so hot that even the occurrence of a heavy fall of rain serves only to clear the leaves from dust, since it evaporates as quickly as it falls. The autumn season begins with March and ends with May, and may be considered the most genial and beautiful part of the year. The indigenous vegetation which has suffered through the summer now awakes to new life, while trees and shrubs put forth fresh growth : the European deciduous trees and shrubs mature their wood, and, autumn-like, drop their leaves. June, July, and August constitute the winter and rainy season, during which rain falls more than enough, if it were put to the popular vote. But seeing that it takes the place of snow, and gives to the ground many fertilising qualities, we do not get too much of it.

Heavy hoar-frosts appear during night, which have often disastrous effects upon the introduced tropical and sub-tropical vegetation. The spring is introduced by September and terminates with November. During this season of the year the gardens may be considered in their best condition of floral beauty - trees, shrubs, perennials, and annuals emulate each other in their display of colour and perfection of beauty. From this short climatic sketch it will be readily understood that to attempt a universal acclimatisation of plants would be rather a difficult undertaking. The alpine and tropical ones suffer not only from dryness, but likewise the latter from frost during winter.

Not many European or North American forest-trees prosper with us. The Elm, Plane, Ash, Chestnut, and Poplar do fairly well; while the Oak, Lime, Birch, and Horse-Chestnut do anything but well. All attempts to grow the beautiful Beech-tree have as yet failed. It will therefore be at once seen that our gardens do not present that lively appearance during spring which is one of the grandest features of British gardens - "When all the trees, on all the hills, Open their thousand leaves".

To the coniferous family this climate offers special advantages, from the fact that the Californian, Himalayan, and Japanese varieties all produce cones in abundance. The trees grow to a gigantic size, and give to a garden a grand oriental appearance. From "the world's flora" we may select freely. The East Indies favours us with many of its beauties. From South America we have the famous Jacaranda, Brug-mansia, Tecomas, and many kinds of Begonias : only one or two of the African Palms prosper in the open ground. The succulent family do remarkably well, and develop to great perfection, especially Yuccas, Aloes, and Agaves. It is a pleasing sight to see Aloe americana and mexicana throwing up their flower-spikes to the height of 30 or 40 feet, which they usually do after the eighth year of planting. The growth of perennials generally succeeds well. Phloxes, Delphiniums, and Aconitums make a grand show in their season. Annuals generally grow best during the early spring months, and arrive at great perfection. The China Aster, however, does not equal those at home, for at its best it produces small insignificant flowers; and, strange to say, all its endless varieties go back to the original type.

For summer display we have to depend to a large extent upon Petunias, Verbenas, Zinnias, Zonal Pelargoniums, Tagetes, Amaranths, and Gomphrenas : these annuals, being deep-rooted, are able to bridge over the dry season. All the bulbous and tuberous plants from the Cape succeed as well as in their native country, and when planted with some aim at arrangement they make a grand autumn display. The natural moisture of the climate makes it a very genial home for many kinds of ferns - from the great Tree-fern down to the lowly Pellaea : the finer sorts of Adiantum have only one representative - viz., Adiantum aethiopicum. Of fruits we have a long list - such as Apples, Pears, Apricots, Peaches, Nectarines, Oranges, Lemons, Plums, Figs, Olives, Guavas, and Mulberries. To go through the country when Peaches are in bloom is one of the sights of the season. Apples grow to a large size, and the trees literally groan under the weight of fruit; they have, however, to do battle against attacks of American blight, for which no reliable remedy has as yet been found : in many cases the tree at last succumbs to this dreadful scourge. All the stone-fruit producing trees are short-lived, especially those of the Peach type, which seldom live beyond fourteen years.

Apples, in like manner, decline at an early age : no doubt this is caused by quick luxuriant growth and early and excessive bearing. The Pears grow to perfection, while the fruit of Peaches, etc, (fee, attain a size and acquire a flavour almost unknown in the "old country." Vines bear plentifully in sheltered situations, though somewhat wanting in flavour. A German company have taken in a large tract of land, which they propose forming into a vineyard. They say the climate is in every way suited for the production of the finest wines. Grapes are grown for market, by market-gardeners, in shed-like buildings with glass roofs. By this means they bring them in early, without the expense of artificial heat, and readily dispose of them at one shilling per pound, which leaves a fair profit. The Phylloxera has not yet made its appearance amongst the vine plantations of the colony, though in the neighbouring colony of Victoria it is in full force. It may be the climate is against it. The cultivation of the Olive is likely to succeed; if so, it will be a great source of wealth to the colony. For vegetable culture the spring months are very suitable. Cauliflower may sometimes be seen 2 feet in diameter. Asparagus does remarkably well. Peas grow rapidly, but do not stand long.

Turnips, Carrots, and other root-crops may be had the year round by successive sowings. Leeks and Onions grow to a size not often seen in British gardens. The summer months, owing to their excessive dryness, do not favour kitchen-garden operations, and during this period the housekeeper's demands cannot always be supplied.

In conclusion, we may safely say the climate is too independent of artificial appliances to call forth any great amount of horticultural skill; and to the trained gardener I do not think it offers a very tempting field for operations. Undoubtedly at no very distant period it will become a great fruit-producing country, but even here little skill will be required saving in the raising of young stock. Such climates as that of Britain, where the rigour of winter calls forth all the energies and appliances which art can invent, is certainly the most likely to advance that art which strives to give to colder climes that which more sunny climes produce. Wm. Forbes.

Auckland, N.Z., February 2, 1881.