X.—Acclimatisation.

Having been informed that there was a distinct species of tobacco grown in Tahiti, I endeavoured to obtain some of the seed in order to its introduction to New Zealand. On account of our visit being at fête time, the seed could not be immediately obtained, but M. Duplessis, aide-de-camp to the Governor, promised to forward a small packet to the Chairman of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce. There are no indigenous plants or animals suitable to New Zealand. Horses, cattle, sheep and pigs do well on the island. Vanilla is grown successfully, but on account of the absence of humming-birds it has to be fertilised by hand, which entails such an amount of labour as can only render the growing profitable so long as good prices rule.