PEDESTRIANS 



299 



immediate vicinity of its origin, the earlier designation was dropped, 

 the later one assumed. It became known up and down the east coast 

 as "Griffin's Weed." From Frazertown it radiated in all directions 

 northwards to Gisborne, westwards to Waikaremoana, eastwards to 

 Wairoa. From the last-named centre it advanced slowly the plant 

 was known to me fifteen years before it reached 

 the station vid Waihua, Mohaka, Waikari, and 

 Putorino towards Tutira. Like many another 

 road-plant, it thrived best on trodden, trampled 

 soils, flourishing most luxuriantly where travelling 

 stock had thoroughly stirred and scuffled the 

 ground. Native village cultivation-grounds, too, 

 such as those of Whatatutu and Mohaka were 

 completely overrun ; on the other hand, for some 

 plants are most fastidious and precise in their 

 requirements, it eschewed long-established sheep- 

 camps as too rich, ploughed lands as too loose, 

 and marl as too stiff. As the best portion of the 

 station has proved too good and the worst too 

 bad, it has given no trouble on Tutira, the few plants establishing 

 themselves about the homestead having been from time to time dug 

 out and burnt. Elsewhere also the plant seems to have shot its 

 bolt, less is heard of it each year. Curiously enough, too, with an 

 extension of range the weed has in great degree managed to shake 

 off the provincialism of its early designation : it is becoming known 

 by its proper name, vervain. 



In the early 'nineties, passing the little roadside accommodation- 

 house of Marumaru, my attention was attracted by the gaudy, vulgar 

 yellow blossom of ragwort (Senecio Jacobcea), fifteen or twenty speci- 

 mens of which were in full bloom. As I came across but one other 

 plant, and that within a few score yards of where the others grew, 

 and as I ascertained by inquiries that the plant was still elsewhere 

 unknown, there is good reason to believe that Senecio Jacobcea sprang 

 into local life at Marumaru. 1 The plant, from its conspicuous blossoms, 

 was impossible to miss, so that every step in its progress towards 



Vervain. 



1 I then represented the Mohaka riding on the Wairoa County Council, the time was 

 well spent. What I learnt of wayside weeds and their habits could hardly have been acquired 

 otherwise. 



