XX11 INTRODUCTION GRAZING DISTRICTS. 



germinate, and it is only by constant care and watchfulness that the plants 

 are prevented from spreading and injuring the healthy pasturage. Several 

 paddocks are so infested with large tussocks that their grazing capabilities 

 are considerably below what they would be under better management, and 

 it is no exaggeration to say that quite two-thirds of some areas are, for all 

 practical purposes, rendered almost useless for grazing on account of the 

 tussocks. Paddocks were shown to me that had been once greatly infested 

 with tussocks, but since they had been taken out the pasturage had become 

 very good and healthy. Next to the tussocks the so-called dandelions 

 (Hypochceris radiata. Linn., and II. glabra, Linn.) are the most common 

 pests in pastures. The leaves of these plants lie flat on the surface, and 

 where the plants are very plentiful they choke out the more tender and 

 nutritious grasses. Singular to say, so far as I could find out, no dairymen 

 have ever observed any bad effects on cattle that have eaten these plants, 

 although I have received scores of specimens for identification from other 

 parts of the country, with letters statiag that both horses and cattle show 

 signs of great distress after eating the plants. In some pastures " Paddy's 

 lucerne " (Sida rJiombifolia, Linn.) is very plentiful. A few dairymen seem to 

 think that " Paddy's lucerne" is a good forage plant. The majority of the 

 persons 1 spoke to, however, spare no pains to destroy the plant, as they 

 contend it occupies the place whore much better herbage would grow, which 

 is very true. Lantana and sweetbriar have become established in some places, 

 and also the English blackberry ; but, so far as I saw, none of these pests 

 are very plentiful. Sorrel (Rumex acetosella, Linn.) is very plentiful, and in 

 some places it has become a great pest. Many persons seem to think that 

 this plant gives cattle the scours when they eat too ravenously of it. The 

 "vervain" (Verbena venosa, Gr. et H.) and the "blue top" (Verbena bonari- 

 tfwm, Linn.) are spreading in places. The former is likely to prove a great 

 pest if no check is put upon its growth. This pretty flowering plant has 

 escaped from gardens, and being of prostrate habit chokes out the more 

 nutritious herbage. Once it becomes well established it is difficult to exter- 

 minate, since its underground roots ramify in all directions, and from the 

 smallest particle of roots a new growth will develop, which soon forms a large 

 plant. In places the " blue top " is a great pest, and some persons seem to 

 think it gives red water to cattle that eat it. Some beekeepers also complain 

 that when the plant is in bloom bees work it very industriously, but the 

 honey secreted by the flowers is not of good flavour. On some of the rich 

 flats the " bushy starwort " (Aster dumosus, Willd.) is very plentiful, and on 

 many of the hillsides there is a dwarf plant with grass-like leaves called the 

 "yellow rush lily" (Sisyrincliium micranthum, Cav.), which is said to be 

 spreading very fast. In addition to these weeds there are docks of various 

 kinds, which are generally found growing near moist places, and a number of 

 other undesirable plants of less account. 



THE BETTER CLASS OF PASTURAGE. 



This is composed of different kinds of herbage in varying proportions. In 

 newly-laid down pasture perennial rye predominates, but the reason is that a 

 greater percentage of seeds of this grass is generally sown in mixture for per- 

 manent pasture. Cocksfoot forms a fair percentage of the herbage in some 

 permanent pastures, and it appears to withstand dry weather better than rye- 

 grass. It is coming more generally into favour with dairymen, and where it 

 is well kept down it certainly does not grow into objectionable tussocks, 

 which is characteristic of the grass when it is allowed to grow undisturbed 

 or any length of time. White clover forms a large percentage of the herbage 



