498 Transactions.— Botany. 
sub-alpine district, they are not adapted fer cultivation, and will recede 
before the advance of agriculture ; although a wise policy would encourage 
their preservation in gullies and broken country on account of the great 
value of their copious herbage during the severe portion of the winter. 
They afford excellent material for paper manufacture, for which purpose 
they are largely used at the Mataura Paper Mills. 
Danthonia semi-annularis, Br. 
'The most generally diffused grass in New Zealand, being found from 
the North Cape to Stewart Island, and ascending from the sea level to 
6,000 feet. As may be expected it varies widely in habit and value. 
Var. a (D. unarede, Raoul) is usually found in rocky places near the 
sea, and is easily distinguished by the drooping tips of its deep green leaves, 
and the large size of its florets. Itis eaten by horses and cattle, but I have 
no data on which to found an opinion as to its value for cultivation, although 
inclined to regard it favourably. 
B. pilosa. This form is distinguished by its slender habit and small 
panicle. The joints of the culm are usually hairy. It is the most common 
form, and is found in all soils and situations, except those of a moist 
character, from the sea level to 6,000 feet, where it forms the chief herbage 
on dry soils, as on the hills above Wellington Harbour ; it becomes harsh and 
brown early in the season, giving for two or three months a parched: ap- 
pearance to the landscape, but when mixed with European grasses on 
ordinary soils it retains its verdure through the year, and produces a large 
quantity of rather dry but very nutritious herbage. It is eaten by stock of 
all kinds, especially when mixed with the ordinary introduced grasses, 
which are greatly improved by the addition. 
Several sub-varieties occur alike in lowland and mountain districts, but 
the only one requiring special notice is a small form with an unbranched 
pale-coloured panicle. Itis not uncommon about Auckland, where it forms 
a compact sward of fine herbage on light soils. 
All the forms of this variety are of high value for ordinary mixed pas- 
turage. They are also well adapted for sparing use in lawn mixtures. 
Var. alpina. This remarkable variety is chiefly confined to altidudes 
of from 2,500 to 5,500 feet, where it forms the * carpet grass” or hassock 
grass" of the shepherds, the name being given in allusion to its depressed 
cushion-like habit. In dry weather it becomes very harsh and slippery. 
Deschampsia cespitosa, Pal. 
This handsome grass is abundant in moist places in mountain districts, 
and attains its northern limit at the Waihi Lake, Waikato. It is occa- 
sionally eaten by horses and cattle, but is not adapted for cultivation. 
