630 Transactions. — Miscellaneous. 



stocked during June, grazed down during the first half of July 

 to secure the feed that would otherwise be frosted, and again 

 unstocked till the middle of August, or later, every day at 

 this period producing three times as much growth as a day in 

 July. Such a method of winter feeding will, of course, neces- 

 sitate some large fenced-off yards and plenty of artificial food ; 

 but it will secure a fairly maximum yield from pasture, and 

 I see no theoretical objection to it save one. It appeared that 

 a shoot of grass grows only at its youngest blade, the second 

 youngest growing very slowly indeed, and the others not at 

 all, so soon as a new blade appeal's and begins, as it does, to 

 rush ahead. It may be, therefore, that a mature blade gives 

 up its nutritive substance more or less to the youngest blade ; 

 so that when it is liable to be frosted it has already become 

 of poor value as feed, and its loss is not of much consequence. 

 Should this surmise prove correct it seems to me that to keep 

 pastures wholly unstocked during winter is a necessity for 

 sound scientific grazing. Should the surmise prove incorrect 

 it would be sound policy to graze the pastures to a consider- 

 able extent once in the winter — that is to say, at the com- 

 mencement of the frosting of the old blades. 



In conclusion, I find by inquiry the opinion is very com- 

 mon that grass grows from the root rather than from the 

 blade ; and, of course, such an opinion is in accord with bare 

 grazing. On the other hand, the botanist asserts that grass 

 grows from the blade rather than from the root, and he con- 

 siders, therefore, that bare grazing is thoroughly unscientific 

 and unprofitable. 



PosTSCMPT. — Since this paper was read I have noticed 

 that the clipped tuft of rye-grass had its vitality so impaired 

 by the clipping that it was unable to stand the slight drought 

 of early summer, and almost completely died out. 



Art. LXII. — On Moth-destruction. 

 By Coleman Phillips. 



[Read before the Wellington Philosophical Society, 11th November, 



1891.} 



I HAVE for a long time been struck with the vast number of 

 moths which swarm in our gardens, orchards, and fields 

 during the spring, summer, and autumn months of the year, 

 and I have regarded any reduction of their numbers as almost 

 hopeless. The year befpre last I lost a large area of swede 

 turnips in consequence of caterpillars which I supposed came 



