FERN-CRUSHING 179 



itself finally with the fodder-plants best suited to its particular 

 requirements. 1 



1 The reader, however, must not cease the perusal of this chapter in the belief that the 

 present plant-covering of the Rocky Staircase is to be its last. Danthonia semiannularis and 

 Microloena stipoides, natives as they are and fitted as they may be to the soils of the trough of 

 the run, are less well adapted to them than an alien thrown by mere chance on to the shores 

 of the Dominion. Chilian grass or Rat's-tail (Sporobolus indicus), according to the late Bishop 

 "Williams, " made its first appearance at the Bay of Islands in 1840, shortly after the arrival 

 of a ship called the Surabaya, which, while on a voyage from Valparaiso to Sydney laden 

 with horses and forage, put into the Bay of Islands in a disabled state, and was there 

 condemned and her cargo sold." From the Bay of Islands the plant spread south to 

 Auckland. There, whilst on a holiday in the 'nineties, it was noticed by Harry Young 

 flourishing on light sandy lands. He gathered a palmful, and upon his return scattered it on 

 the Staircase. Later, when assured of its value and suitability to the local environment, 

 thousands of pounds weight were purchased and sown broadcast. The plant, though a 

 wretched germinator and therefore slow in taking possession, is proving on light lands fully 

 exposed to the sun of incalculable value. Nothing at any rate is more certain than that on 

 northern and western hillsides Rat's-tail will completely oust other grasse?, and indeed all 

 other growths, except perhaps temporarily after fires Suckling clover and possibly Trifolium 

 glomeratum and T. suffocatum ; even these clovers, however, will be hard put to it in the 

 company of this virile castaway. On southern and eastern slopes, however, Danthonia 

 semianuularis, D. pilosa, and Microloena stipoides will maintain themselves, though they too 

 are sun-lovers. There will be found on these colder, damper aspects, besides weeds, some of 

 no worth whatsoever and others affording an aromatic bite, several members of the clover 

 family grasses such as Sweet Vernal (Anthroxanthum odoratum), Fiorin (Agrostis alba), Fog 

 (Holcus lanatus), Crested Dog's-tail (Cynosurus cristatus), Meadow Grass (Poa pi-atensis), and 

 others of lesser value. 



