103 



Zealand, the grasses are largely mixed with native species of Angelica, Mentha, 

 Dichondra, Lepidium, Nertera, Epilobium, and Oxalis, with many dwarf- 

 growing shrubs. 



No attempt has been made, at least so far as I am aware, to utilize the 

 swamps and swampy gullies so common in many parts of the province, or to 

 add introduced kinds to those often found indigenous to such localities. In 

 many places where drainage would be impracticable, or too costly for the 

 means at command, a large crop of nutritious grasses, suitable either for green 

 or dry fodder, might be obtained at little more than the cost of the seed, by 

 the selection of suitable kinds, such as the orange-spiked foxtail ( Alopec%irus 

 fulvus), the reed-canary grass (Phcdaris arundinacea ) , the meadow-sweet 

 grass (Glyceria aquatica), the floating meadow grasses (Glyceric*, fluitans and 

 G. plicata), the broad-leaved meadow grass (Poet sudeiica), or the native 

 swamp grasses (Ilierochloe redolens and Isaclme australis), the last being 

 one of the most valuable grasses in the colony. It is obvious that a resource 

 like this is of great value to the newly-located settler of small means, who too 

 often sees his first paddocks fail when most needed, from badly-selected seeds, 

 or the ravages of caterpillar. How many cases of actual failure might have 

 proved ultimate success, had this simple resource been known ! 



I purpose briefly indicating the principal introduced and native plants 

 adapted for pasturage in this province. It must not however be supposed that 

 the catalogue is intended to be exhaustive. Of the native kinds, only those 

 decidedly preferred by cattle in this province, are mentioned ; other forms, 

 especially some of the sub-alpine meadow-grasses, form favourite food in the 

 south. 



[Mr. Kirk then describes the characters and qualities of foreign grasses 

 suitable for New Zealand soils, which are classified in the lists appended to his 

 paper. — Ed.] 



NEW ZEALAND GRASSES, 



ALL OF WHICH ARE FOUND IN THIS PROVINCE, AND ARE MORE OR LESS EATEN BY 



CATTLE. 



Microlcena stipoides, Br. A slender-growing social g^ass, apparently 

 confined to the North Island ; closely cropped by sheep, horses, and cattle. 

 In many places it is found growing with Danthonia semi-annularis, and the 

 introduced sweet vernal grass and yellow suckling, forming patches of 

 nutritious pasture amongst the Tea-tree. In several localities near Auckland, 

 these four plants, probably self-seeded, form a large portion of the vegetation 

 of the paddocks. 



Microlcena avenacea, Br. A coarse-growing kind, common in woods 

 where few other kinds will grow. Eaten by cattle and horses. 



Hierochloe redolens, Br., "Karetu." Common in wet places and swamps, 

 of rather stout habit but sweet and succulent, eaten by horses and cattle. In 

 Mr. Buchanan's " Sketch of the Botany of Otago," it is considered a grass of 

 the first quality ; it appears however to be inferior to Microlcena stipoides, 

 which is not found in the South Island. 



Isachne australis, Br. Abundant in moist places, swamps, and by river 

 sides, from the North Cape to Waikato, and perhaps much further south. 

 A slender-growing grass, producing a large yield, and eaten with avidity by 

 sheep, horses, and cattle. Certainly one of the most valuable of our native 

 grasses, and would most likely prove an addition to the cultivated grasses of 

 the warmer parts of Europe : a native of Australia, India, and China. 



Zoysia pungens, Willd. A small creeping rooted grass, forming a compact 

 turf in places near the sea ; it has been observed on sand, mud, and the dry 



