286 TUTIRA 



early days those parts of the station were lightly stocked or alto- 

 gether unstocked ; nevertheless, as time progressed, the range of the 

 plant extended until after fires it has become the most important 

 fodder-plant on the station. Unlike the majority of aliens on Tutira, 

 suckling appears and reappears on the same ground more and more 

 thickly. I never look on this insignificant weed without thankfulness : 

 to it I owe my continued ownership of the station ; it has produced 

 more wool and saved the lives of more hoggets than any other single 

 fodder-plant on the run. Now that a larger proportion of the pumice 

 soils are open to light and air, its germination, early or late, profuse 

 or sparse, according to meteorological conditions, decides the nature 

 of the coming clip of wool. 



After fires in the 'nineties, over central Tutira paddock after paddock 

 was temporarily overrun by Canadian groundsel (Erigeron Canadensis). 

 It also, like other aliens named, has almost completely disappeared. 



Spread of plants after fire has, however, been by no means confined 

 to aliens. Readers will recollect that it was as a fire weed that manuka 

 attained its grip of the run ; several of the terrestrial orchids, the 

 common catch -fly (Drosera rotundifolia) and Pelargonium australe, 

 have also sprung up and spread after fires, particularly after fires 

 through manuka thickets. 



Of late years, too, aftef fires on rich damp swamp-land, has appeared 

 in profusion Polygonum serrulatum. It is a weed which follows the 

 flax-mill, carried in men's boots, sacking, and machinery. 



One weed only on Tutira owes its rapid spread to flood. In the late 

 'nineties Gillia squarrosa appeared thickly on a sheep-camp on the top 

 of the Image Hill. During the following year the paddock containing 

 that hill was crushed, immense mobs of sheep being run on it, and 

 innumerable new paths stamped out. Then occurred one of the 

 floods which pass at irregular intervals over the station ; paths became 

 runnels, runnels became brooks, the Papakiri, into which they poured 

 themselves, rose feet above its banks ; everywhere along its course sand 

 was deposited from a couple of inches to a couple of feet. During the 

 following season, on this flood-drift as on tilled soil, germinated masses 

 of the evil-smelling plant, Californian stinkweed it is called, on account 

 of its malodorous savour. Next year it was gone, the following season 

 or two there was a sparse recrudescence of the plant, now it has become 

 a rare weed, appearing only where by chance the surface has been broken 

 and the soil stirred. 



