10 ALOPECURUS GENICULATUS. 



Opinions of authors, regarding the value of this grass in pasture, are 

 conflicting. Lowe, in his work on British grasses, says of it, "A common grass, 

 rejected by cattle." Again, Charles Johnson, in a work on British grasses, says, 

 "Most of the grazing animals devour this grass with avidity." And again, 

 Sinclair, in his "Hortus Gramineous Woburnensis, " gives the following opinion 

 regarding its value : "It does not appear to be eaten with much relish by either 

 horses, cattle, or sheep ; its nutrient powers are not considerable, and, from its 

 sub-aquatic habit, it cannot be recommended for cultivation. " 



This latter opinion is probably a fair estimate of its value as a pasture grass, 

 and, as it has also little bulk to recommend it as a fodder plant, it may be left to 

 its own natural power of increase in New Zealand, as there are superior grasses 

 equally adapted for wet situations, which will better repay the expense attending 

 aided propagation . 



Glyceria fluitans, R. Brown, can be recommended as a valuable grass for wet 

 land. This exotic species is already not uncommon in several parts of New 

 Zealand, and the following comparative values of it with Alopecurus geniculatus 

 may prove interesting. They are taken from the Woburn experiments of Mr. 

 Sinclair, see "Hortus Grarnineus Woburnensis," pp. 349, 353 : 



" Alopecurus yeniculatus : The produce per acre was 6806 lb., which, when 

 dry, amounted to 2892 lb., and, on analysis, yielded of nutrient matter 292 lb." 



" Glyceria fluitans: The produce per acre was 13,612 lb., which, when dry, 

 amounted to 4083 lb., and, on analysis, yielded of nutrient matter 372 lb." Cows 

 eat this grass greedily near Wellington, and give more milk when fed upon it. 



Glyceria aquatica is also a most valuable grass in wet places, and worthy of 

 introduction to New Zealand, as the following analysis from the Woburn experi- 

 ments prove : 



" Glyceria aquatica : The produce per acre was 126,596 lb., which, when dry, 

 amounted to 75,957 lb., and, on analysis, yielded of nutrient matter 4945 lb. At 

 the time of flowering the produce contains more nutrient matter than when the 

 seed is ripe, in the proportion of 19 to 17. In the fens of Cambridgeshire and 

 Lincolnshire immense tracts are covered by this grass, which not only affords rich 

 pasturage in summer, but forms the chief pari^f the winter fodder." 



The best method of propagating these grasses will probably be by the roots, 

 as the only species yet introduced does not always ripen its seed. It also shows a 

 capacity for growing on dry ground, and may, therefore, prove valuable on the 

 farm in mixed fodder crops. 



DISTRIBUTION IN NEW ZEALAND : NORTH ISLAND : EAST COAST 

 Colenso; AUCKLAND Kirk ; KAWAU (probably introduced) Buchanan. 

 SOUTH ISLAND : NELSON (Sub-alpine) H. H. Travcrs ; CANTERBURY 

 Lyall, Armstrong; LAKE OHAU Haast ; OTAGO LAKE DISTRICT (Sub- 

 alpine) Hector and Buchanan. 



Reference to Plate V. : Fig. 1 . Plant. 2. Spikelet. 3. Floret. 4. Nerva- 

 tion of empty glumes. 5. Nervation of flowering glume. 6. Ovary with long 

 feathery stigmas. 



