84 8 Transactions. — Botany. 



it gets diseased and attacked with ergot (Paccinia ureclo), etc., and wUl be 

 replaced by other plants in its struggle for existence. 



One other condition that must be noticed, and a very important one, is 

 the period of rest during which the plant ceases to grow above ground, and 

 either remains with only small growth in any part, or nearly quiescent, or 

 in other species commences vigorous root action and extends under ground, 

 this being regulated by the decreasing or increasmg temperature, height of 

 ground water, by which we understand the meansummer and winter water, 

 level or height of moisture in the soil. The above and below soil changes 

 of growth taking place in different grasses depending upon their species, 

 original habitat, etc., at various seasons of the year, in this island, either in 

 the spring, summer, autumn, or winter, and all other things being equal, 

 this growth above ground will determine at which season a grass is most to 

 be depended upon by the graziers and farmers in this colony. 



The Panicum spectabile, which will be growing vigorously from October 

 to April, will die dov^^n in the vdnter and only maintain a weak root-action 

 until spring, while the Bromus unioloides will grow as fast above ground in 

 the winter as in spring, and not so rapidly during the summer and autumn. 

 The Anthoxantlmm odoratum grows all the winter, spring, and autumn, and 

 is a good feeding grass during those seasons. 



The Elymus condensatus grows fastest during the spring and autumn, 

 continuing to grow, though less vigorously, in winter and summer. 



The Stenotaphrum glabrum, so-called buffalo grass, and Cy)wdon dactylon 

 or doob grass, grow best during the hottest and driest weather here, and 

 whilst the Califoruian alfalfa with irrigation mil make enormous growth 

 during the summer, the Chilian alfalfa grows on also in the autumn and 

 winter. 



The Trifolium repens makes its principal growth in the spring ; the 

 Lolium perenne gets weaker after the first three or four years; while the 

 Alopecurus pratensis becomes a much better grass in permanent pastures 

 after this period ; and although here^on swamps and peat bogs many of the 

 English pasture grasses whl not thrive, the Agrostis stolonifera there grows 

 well and is very fattening to cattle. The Poa aquatica and Festuca aquaiica 

 will thrive best by the sides of rivers, streams, and damp places, making 

 there the best feeding grass ; while the Elymus arenarius, and Paspalum 

 littorale, and AcJiillea millefolium, and some others will grow on nearly 

 pure sand and be then relished by stock, so much that some of my sheep 

 selected the Elymus arenarius from many other grasses in preference to any- 

 thing else. 



The Dactylis ccespitosa is said by some authorities (but of this I cannot 

 speak from personal experience at present) to grow best in swamps by the 



