294 NOTES ON THE BOTANY 
dently given to it, from the immense tufts or Zussacks formed 
by the plant ; nor, indeed, is the appellation wholly restricted 
to this valuable esculent grass, but it is also applied to a 
species of Carex (C. trifida of Cavanilles), which grows in a 
similar manner; a circumstance which gave rise to an im- 
portant error: for specimens of the Tussack Sedge were put 
into the hands of the Botanist, that a description might 
be forwarded to the Colonial Office, and accordingly a des- 
cription of the Sedge, which, indeed, in its young state, is 
eaten by the cattle, was transmitted instead of the grass. 
The error was quickly detected, and, at the Governor's re- 
quest, a full account, with a drawing and corresponding 
specimens, were received at the Colonial Office, and these 
have been obligingly placed in my hands, that they may 
be added to this brief notice of the botanical results of 
the expedition. A correct acquaintance with this Grass 
is the more important, because, as is well known, the 
great value of the Falklands to Britain arises from the vast 
numbers of cattle, (sprung from the original stock left many 
years ago by the Spaniards) which feed and fatten there, and 
with which, vessels touching at those islands can be readily 
supplied. Also, because the nature of the soil and climate 
producing this grass gives every reason to believe that the 
shores of a vast extent of England, Scotland and Ireland, 
would suit it equally well; more especially the Western 
coasts of the two latter countries. Indeed, public curiosity 
has already been strongly excited at home upon this topic by 
the mere newspaper reports, to a degree which is perhaps 
only known to the writer of this article, who, from the deep 
interest he naturally feels in all that concerns the Natural 
History results of this expedition, and from his connexion 
with the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew, has been over- 
whelmed with applications for seeds and plants of Tussack 
Grass, from the proprietors of unprofitable sandy and peaty ^ 
soils throughout the British Dominions. To all, his answer 
has been, that, as yet, no living plants or seeds have reached 
