220 



James Matheson's land in the Hebrides had for some time 

 suffered from the attacks oi a coleopterous larva. By the same 

 note we find that Sir Joseph Hooker had by that time modified 

 his views regarding the general value of the grass, for he says : 

 ki I have expressed my doubts as to the plant being really adapted 

 for pasture purposes. The Tussocks are only formed slowly, and 

 would be soon destroyed by cattle, and the plant consequently 



exterminated." 



Within the last few years recommendations have been made 

 that the grass should be widely planted in the colder and more 

 exposed parts of Britain, but before undertaking experiments, 

 intending cultivators would be well advised to take advantage 

 of the experience gained from previous experiments, and to 

 remember that the plant can only be grown successfully in 

 positions near the sea, and on properly drained and cultivated 

 ground. Moreover, the leaves must be cut and fed to cattle, 

 for if cattle are allowed free access to the plants they are 

 invariably killed by the animals eating the bases. It must also 

 be remembered that the grass has not come up to expectations 

 in the past, either here or in the Falklands, where in 1844 it 

 was referred to as the Golden Glory of the Falkland Islands.* 



There appears to have been some disagreement as to the date 

 of introduction of Tussock Grass into the British Isles. The 

 Ross Expedition has been credited with its introduction in 1842, 

 and another date is given as 1844. The matter appears to be 

 settled in u Life and Letters of Sir J. D. Hooker," L p. 130. 

 Answering a letter to Sir J. Ross in November, 1844, Sir Joseph 

 wrote: "I am delighted to hear that some of the old Tussac 

 vegetated, as everyone has said that our expedition seed all 

 failed. It is quite a triumph to me, I can assure you, as now 

 the expedition was the first to introduce the grass. I have 11 

 plants in my bedroom, growing very slowly, and there are 

 a great many in the garden." This evidence is, however, dis- 

 credited by a later letter written to Sir J. Ross on 1st September, 

 1845, for Sir Joseph wrote: "your excellent brother's plant of 

 Tussac flowered with us and turned out to be the British Dactyhs 

 glomerata, to our shame and confusion at Kew. . . . The fact is 

 that we have only lately procured seeds and raised young plants 

 of the true Tussac.' 5 This suggests that the first plants were 

 raised from seeds sent by Governor Moody in 1844. 



For an exhaustive account of the introduction to, and 

 experimental planting of Tussock Grass in Britain, the Journal 

 of the Royal Agricultural Society, 1842-1850, should be 

 consulted. 



Explanation of Plates. 



Plate IV.— The homestead surrounded by Gorse hedges some 



6 ft. or 8 ft. high. The crop being cut is green 

 oats for hay. The house stands about 80 ft. above 

 sea level. All the land under oats is suitable for 

 tree-growing. The hill in the distance rises to 

 2000 ft. 



* A Eeport on the capabilities of the Falkland Islands. 





