THE MEADOWS. 87 



quite assured when in the case of an upland beech forest (Xotho- 

 f(t</us cliffortioides) the dry leafy floor has been burnt to the soil 

 beneath and the tree-seeds destroyed. Bearing these facts in mind, 

 and recognising the rain-forest climate of New Zealand, mentioned 

 in Chapter III. it is not impossible that much of the Dominion 

 now treeless, such as Central Otago, was long ago occupied by more 

 or less extensive forests.* 



LOWLAND AXD MONTANE TUSSOCK MEADOWS. 



The tussock meadows of the montane regions and the plains are 

 of great commercial importance. They are, in fact, the home of those 

 vast flocks and herds on which the prosperity of the Dominion .so 

 largely depends. The study of their plants is therefore of high eco- 

 nomic interest. 



Foremost come the grasses, replaced now in so many cases by 

 those of Europe, and by the host of introduced weeds. Some of 

 these indigenous grasses are most valuable for stock. The tussocks 

 belong especially to two species Poa caespitosa and Festuca rubra. 

 As a food for stock the poa is not of much moment, but Festuca rubra 

 is of considerable value. The blue - tussock (Poa Colensoi] forms 

 much smaller tussocks than either of the above, and is a most valuable 

 economic grass. Another grass of great importance is the blue-grass 

 (Agropyron scabrum), still more or less abundant in some localities. 

 The various forms of Danthonia pilosa and D. semiannularis are very 

 important indeed, since they will tolerate burning and increase natu- 

 rally upon the poorest ground, where they are probably of more value 

 than any European grass that can be used. This must not lead the 

 farmer to suppose that " danthonia," as all these different forms are 

 called in the papers and by the seed-merchants, will ever replace rye- 

 grass, cocksfoot, or red-clover in the better land. There, undoubtedly, 

 the European grasses surpass any of the native ones ; but these latter 

 owe their importance to their suitability for poor ground and high 

 country. 



On the lower meadows certain plants with more or less conspicuous 

 flowers are to be met with. Here are some of the buttercups (E<unm- 



This remark has no bearing on the question of very ancient totara forests, 

 whose presence is suggested, as Mr. R. Speight has shown, by the abundance of 

 totara logs in Central Otago and certain river- valleys of the Canterbury mountain- 



region. 



7-PIants. 



