A_. H. Cockayne. — Montane Tussock Grassland. 165 



expect that ordinary grassland of a more mesophytic tyi^e is likely to 

 be produced by artificial means. It is, however, possible that certain 

 grasses that one might term facultative xerophytes, such as certain forms 

 of Danthonia pilosa, might become in time important consituents of the 

 montane tussock grassland. When conditions are favourable Dan- 

 thonia ]nlosa is distinctly a mesophytic grass, with broad flat green 

 leaves; but when conditions are adverse they dry and roll up, fresh 

 green succulent herbage being again produced on the advent of more 

 congenial conditions. If Danthonia pilosa would spread over the montane 

 grassland, and become an important constituent of the vegetation, a 

 great increase in carrying-capacity Avould be secxired. 



Spelling the ground during the seeding season has often been advo- 

 cated, and the increased carrying-capacity over certain areas that has 

 followed understocking for some j'ears seems to indicate that such a 

 procedure would be productive of good results. Against this has to be 

 reckoned the fact that much of the montane tussock grassland has 

 already for many years past been more or less unstocked during the late 

 summer and autumn, when the flocks are mainly located on the higher 

 summer country. Again, the special spelling of definite areas during 

 definite periods would entail a very large expenditure in fencing. 



It has been calculated that over one-seventh of the occupied land of 

 New Zealand is composed of montane tussock grassland, from which, 

 roughl}', '2^ lb. of wool is produced per acre each year. A certain number 

 of store sheep are also disposed of from this land, but the number 

 is considerably less than is generally thought. On this huge area the 

 average gross returns are far less than on any other of the occupied 

 lands, and the adoption of any methods which ivill increase the turn- 

 over would be of far-reaching imjMrtance. In order to determine if 

 any methods can be adopted in this direction, a complete investiga- 

 tion of the vegetation with respect to sheep-grazing is necessary, and 

 should precede any definitely experimental work on the improvement of 

 the carrying-capacity of the land. 



The Canterbury College Mountain Biological Station offers excep- 

 tional facilities for this all-important research. With the aid of a few 

 hurdles, some sheep, and proper scientific observation much could be 

 accomplished. When it is said that even after sixty years' continuous 

 occupa.tion of the ground for sheep-grazing comparatively no accurate 

 knowledge is available as to what plants are really furnishing the -bulk 

 of the feed, the need for a thorough investigation of the vegetation 

 from the economic standpoint becomes apparent. It is safe to say that 

 until such time as this has been done any statements as to .the future of 

 the montane tussock grassland are largely a matter of pure speculation. 



