388 Transactions, — Botany. 



warm, dry situations, will give more herbage to the acre than anything else, 

 where the climate suits ; but it would be better suited to cut for hand- 

 feeding than for the live stock to graze upon it. It grows in warm sheltered 

 situations from 12-15 feet high, and quickly forms a plant 4-6 feet in 

 diameter, while its stems are not so tough and coarse as maize, but green 

 and succulent in all parts. It will be fomid very valuable in northern dis- 

 tricts more than in southern ones, but it is more adaptable to situations of 

 lower temperature than would be thought from its appearance, and from 

 the fact that it is a native of Mexico and adjoining places. . 



Festuca rubra. — One of the best of the fescues, as its foliage is readily 

 eaten by sheep or cattle ; and as it grows on into the cool season, and in 

 sheltered spots through the winter, it is a good addition to mixed pasture. 



Festuca dives. — This magnificent grass, which I received from Australia 

 and from several correspondents after some trouble, as its seeds are often 

 unfertile, was, at length, obtained as live plants ; and, by division of roots 

 and careful attention to seed, I was enabled to propagate, increase, grow, 

 and test its value ; and it is one that, when once by careful selection a 

 variety is obtained, will perfect its seeds. No better grass will be found by 

 the grazier or pastoralist, as its period of growth is so long that summer 

 and winter it is growing here, and as it is a very fattening grass it deserves 

 to be planted extensively. 



Echinochloa zenkowski. — Having received seeds of this grass from several 

 parts of the world, I find there are several varieties thus named, some of 

 much more vigorous habit than .others ; but they all grow rapidly, are 

 relished by stock, and from the great abundance of seed they bear quickly, 

 spread, and cover the ground. 



Mountain grass of California. — A grass was sent to me by Mr. Mavity 

 of Cahfornia, under this name, to test and experiment with, as it was con- 

 sidered, by those who knew it, a good and useful grass. Having subjected 

 it to test culture, I am able to speak very favourably of it. It is a brome 

 grass of very hardy habit, and wiU grow upon the poorest clays, stand both 

 wet and dry climates, continues to grow and send up its stems for the 

 greater part of the year when not grazed down too closely ; its foliage is 

 darker in colour than most bromes. It is much relished by the live stock, 

 and it is in every way a valuable addition to our grasses for permanent 

 pasture, and may be sown with advantage over a wide range of climate. 



Fanicum maximum, or Gruuaea grass. — This grass, which grows so 

 vigorously in the hottest weather, ceases to make so much herbage when 

 the autumn is getting cooler, but in the hot northern portions of the 

 colony it is a very suitable grass for quickly fattening the animals fed upon 

 it, and they are very fond of it, especially cattle and horses. In the 



