34 Dr. Balfour's Botanical Excursion. 



or Tussack grass, might bo successful in this situation, both from the 

 nature of tho climate and tho proximity to the sea. Should this 

 grass be introduced into tho country, tho peaty soil on the western 

 islands of Scotland would probably bo that best fittod for its growth. 

 In this way the waste lands of these localities might be made, without 

 preparation, to afford excellent pasture, as well as protection to cattle. 

 This grass was noticed in the Falkland Islands during the recent 

 antarctic expedition. A short account of it was published by Sir 

 William Hooker, * and his son, Dr. Joseph D, Hooker, will give a 

 full description of it in his admirable Antarctic Flora, part of which 

 is already published under tho patronage of Government. The plant 

 is called Tussack or Tussac grass, from the lower part of its culms 

 forming a tuft or tussack. The stems rise to the height of four to six 

 feet, and the leaves hang down all around. It is perennial, and pro- 

 duces large leaves, and an enormous quantity of herbage, which is 

 saccharine and nutritious. The cattle in the Falkland Islands are 

 remarkably fond of it. The plant thrives best in a wet, peaty soil, in 

 insular situations where the spray of the sea dashes over it. Judging 

 from the soil and climate in which it grows, there is every reason to 

 believe that it might be most advantageously sown in the western 

 islands of Scotland. Seeds have been sent home to this country, but 

 only a few of them have germinated. Those sent to the Glasgow 

 garden have not sprouted. Besides the Tussac, Festuca Alopecurus 

 of D'Urville or Arundo Alopecurus of Gaudichaud, also deserves to bo 

 noticed as an important Falkland Island grass found in peat-bogs. 



The climate of Islay is well adapted for oats, and much of the peaty 

 soil might be rendered highly productive. Wheat also thrives in some 

 places, but this crop probably requires a warmer summer than occurs 

 in the island in general. 



On the sandy shores at Laggan we found Convolvulus Soldanella, 

 and in the fields Lamium intermedium and Fumaria capreolata; while 

 the banks of the river furnished luxuriant specimens of Hieracium 

 umbellatum, sylvaticum and boreale. The last-mentioned species 

 has been usually regarded as a form of H. sabaudum, and is figured as 

 such in English botany. It is distinguished by its upper leaves being 

 sessile, with a round base, not with a cordate-clasping base, as in sa- 

 baudum, involucral scales appressed in three regular rows, and uniform 

 in colour. 



In tho woods near Ealabus and Islay House, which we examined 



mento, et sul mctodo con cui vi ci Esequiscono le Colmate, di G. A. Manetti. Firenze, 

 1823. 



The system of Colmation was fully explained by Professor Gordon at one of our lato 

 Conversational Meetings, and its application to such localities as Lochar moss, near 

 Dumfries, was pointed out in an interesting manner by Mr. Smith, late of Deanston. 



* Hooker's Notes of the Botany of the Antarctic Expedition. See also Gardeners' 

 Chronicle for March 4th, 1044; and London Journal of Botany, Vol. II., p. 247. 



