Wellington Philosophical Society. 529 
burnet. Having grown some in a garden, I was anxious to introduce it 
among the native grasses in a low-lying paddock, which had never been 
ploughed, and was never likely to be, on account of the floods which peri- 
odically submerged it, and with that object I transplanted a few roots to 
different spots, and also sowed some of the seed in small patches, which 
were carefully marked. The roots struck readily, and the seed soon sprang 
up, and I congratulated myself on the success attending the experiment ; 
but I failed of my object in substituting burnet for inferior plants through 
the sheep feeding it down close to the ground so that it could not seed. 
The author concludes with a suggestion to the Society to publish a pamph- 
let on such exotic grasses as have been proved suitable for specified soils 
and climates. 
Mr. Travers remarked that Mr. Blundell could get a great deal of the information he 
mentioned as to grasses, etc., from the catalogues published in England. What we 
wanted here was the feeding value of grasses and character of soil. As to the disap- 
pearance of flax, he considered that the opening up of the swamps where it grows, by 
cattle, and the introduction of other plants, did more to make it disappear than merely 
the cattle eating it. It was, no doubt, eaten for the pleasant bitter it contained 
Mr. Kirk remarked that some confusion existed with regard to the burnet; there are 
two plants well known to agriculturists under the names of the greater and the lesser 
burnet respectively. The former flourishes best in cool and rather moist soils, the latter 
in those of a dry character; and he had observed the latter in a naturalized condition 
near Castle-rock and in other parts of the colony. Both plants are of great value. He 
considered the consolidation of the surface of swampy ground by cattle, and the conse- 
quent establishment of exotic weeds, to be more destructive to Phormium and other 
swamp plants than the direct injury caused by cattle in feeding, etc. He regretted that 
he could not agree with the author in his estimate of the value of Dr. Curl's writings. 
His statements were for the most part wanting in the necessary data for testing their 
value. He trusted Dr. Curl would furnish the results of the analysis to which he referred, 
with particulars as to the nature of soil in which the grasses were growing, course of 
culture, and quantity of food furnished by each, in precise terms, at some future time. 
ewman agreed with Mr. Kirk that the information contained in Dr. Curl’s 
papers on these subjects was scarcely full or complete enough to be of much practical 
value. 
Mr. Blundell, in reply, said he did not think it necessary for him to defend Dr. Curl 
He still thought he was right in what he said about the disappearance of the Phormium. 
4. “Notes on the Botany of Waiheke, Rangitoto, and other Islands in 
the Hauraki Gulf," by T. Kirk, F.L.S. (Transactions, p. 444.) 
Mr. Travers said that it would be impossible not to remark the peculiar vegetation of 
Rangitoto as described by Mr, Kirk. The cause of the luxuriance of growth is no doubt 
due to the moisture of the climate. 
Mr. drew attention to a paper by Professor Houghton, of Dublin, on 
“ Physical Geology," lately published in Nature, which bore out certain remarks made in 
a paper on the same subject written by him (Mr. Travers) last year, and eh) in 
Vol. X. of the Transactions. ' 
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