168 Dt\ Hookers Flora Antarctica. 



Tussock, in consequeuce of accounts forwarded to the colonial 

 office by Governor Moody, and to the Admiralty by the Antarc- 

 tic Expedition. The peculiar mode of growth of Dactylis cas- 

 pitosa enables it to thrive in pure sand, and near the sea, where 

 it has the benefit of an atmosphere loaded with moisture, of soil 

 enriched by decaying sea- weeds, of manure, which is composed 

 in the Falkland Islands of an abundant supply of animal matter 

 in the form of guano, and of the excrements of various birds, 

 who deposit their eggs, rear their young, and find a habitation 

 amid the groves of tussock. Its general locality is on the edges 

 of those peat bogs which approach the shore, where it contri- 

 butes considerably to the formation of peat. Though not uni- 

 versal along the coast of these islands, the quantity is still prodi- 

 gious, for it is always a gregarious grass, extending in patches 

 sometimes for nearly a mile, but seldom seen except within the 

 influence of the sea air. This predilection for the ocean does 



not arise from an incapacity to grow and thrive except close to 



the salt water, but because other plants, not suited to the sea- 

 shore, already cover the ground in more inland localities, and 

 prevail over it : I have seen the tussock on inaccessible cliffs in 

 the interior, having been brought there by the birds and after- 

 wards manured by them : and, when cultivated, it thrives both 

 in the Falklands and in England, far from the sea. I know of 

 no grass likely to yield nearly so great an amount of nourishment 

 as the Tussock when thoroughly established ; in proof of which, I 

 quote my friend Governor Moody's printed report, for the truth 

 of which 1 can vouch, both from my own experience and from 

 his having kindly given me ample means for judging of the cor- 

 rectness of his interesting and useful observations, when draw- 

 ing up the report from which the following extract was made. 

 1 During several long rides into the country I have always found 

 the Tussock flourishing most vigorously in spots exposed to the 

 sea, and on soil unfit for any other plant, viz. : the rankest peat- 

 bog, black or red. It is wonderful to observe the beaten foot- 

 paths of the wild cattle and horses, marked like a foot track across 

 the fields of England, extending for miles over barren moor-land, 

 but always terminating in some point or peninsula covered with 

 this favorite fodder ; amid which one is almost certain to meet 

 with solitary old bulls, or perhaps a herd of cattle ; very likely, a 

 troop of wild horses, just trotting off as they scent the coming 

 stranger from afar. To cultivate the Tussock grass, I should re- 

 commend that its seeds be sown in patches, just below the sur- 

 face of the earth and at distances of about two feet apart ; it must 

 afterwards be weeded out, for it grows very luxuriantly, frequent- 

 ly attaining a height of six or seven feet. It should not be grazed, 

 but cut or reaped in bundles. If cut, it quickly shoots again ; 

 but is injured much by grazing : for all animals, especially pig s « 



