104 



debris of trachytic rocks ; eaten by cattle and sheep, and would probably form 

 pasturage of considerable value for the latter, as the herbage, though short, is 

 sweet and succulent. 



Dichelachne stipoides, Hook. f. Common on rocky and waste places and 

 pastures, esj>ecially near the sea. Eaten by cattle and horses ; in Otago it is 

 ranked in value with Hierochloe redolens. 



Agrostis cemula, Br. A slender bent-grass, found throughout the islands, 

 eaten alike by sheep and cattle, especially in the young state. 



Daathonia semi-annularis, Br. A variable grass found in nearly all soils 

 and situations throughout the colony. Eaten by sheep, horses, and cattle. 

 In Otago considered a good cattle-grass. (See the notes under Mierolcena 

 stipoides. ) 



Trisetum antarcticum, Trin. A valuable pasture grass, deservedly con- 

 sidered by Buchanan as a grass of the first quality, for moist pastures ; it will 

 probably prove of greater value than the yellow oat-grass of Europe, to which 

 it is closely allied. 



Poa breviglumis, Hook. f. A " meadow-grass," producing a large quantity 

 of nutritious herbage ; eaten by sheep, cattle, and horses; found in various 

 localities throughout the islands, especially near the sea ; but apparently less 

 common in Auckland than in Canterbury and Otago, where it is considered 

 a grass of the first quality. 



Poa anceps, Forst. An excessively variable " meadow-grass," common 

 throughout the islands, and ascending the mountains to the height of fully 

 6000 feet. One of its forms growing in swampy woods might easily be 

 mistaken for the common meadow-grass of Europe. Eaten by all kinds of 

 cattle, and produces an abundant crop ; frequently found in pastures, especially 

 near the sea. It is probable that some forms of this variable grass are of 

 greater value than others. 



Poa australis, Br. var. laivis. A meadow-grass of more slender habit 

 than the last, not common in the north, but avidly sought after by sheep, 

 horses, and cattle. A pasturage of great value, and deservedly ranked of the 

 first quality by Buchanan. 



Triticum midtiflorum, Banks, and Sol. 



Triticum scabrum, Br. Not so common in the North Island as in the 

 South, where it is abundant, ascending the mountains to the height of 

 6000 feet, and is ravenously eaten by all kinds of cattle. 



Helosciadium leptophyllum, A.D.C. A small umbellate plant recently 

 discovered in this island ; is greedily eaten by sheep, cattle, and horses ; 

 apparently aromatic. 



There are reasons for supposing that the time requisite for bringing the 

 different species to maturity is somewhat less than would be required in the 

 British Islands, although not in the same ratio for each species. This 

 interesting point can only be fully determined by a series of observations, 

 extending over several seasons. In selecting grasses for the yield of hay alone, 

 it must be remembered that while the majority yield the best return of hay, 

 both with regard to quality and quantity, at the commencement of, or just 

 prior to, their coming into flower, others, as the rough meadow-grass (Poa 

 trivialis, J-i.J, are most profitable when the seed is ripe, and others, again, as 

 the bent-grasses, yield the heaviest return some time before flowering. 



The following selections are based chiefly on soil or situation. 



Grasses suitable foe, ordinary Loamy Soils. 



[Grasses indigenous to this Province (Auckland), are marked with an Asterisk.] 

 ^Microlama stipoides. Alopecurus pratense, Foxtail. Phleum pratense, 

 Timothy. * Agrostis cemuho. Anthoxanthum odoratum, Sweet vernal. 



