﻿296 Transactions. — Botany. 



luxuriance in the autumn, but affording a continuous yield ; prefers moist soils, 

 but has considerable power of adaptation. 



Gastridium lendigerum, Beau v. Nit-grass. — Has been introduced with 

 seeds of other grasses, and has become naturalized in many places. Yields a 

 large quantity of seed, but comparatively little herbage. 



Agrostis vulgaris, L. Common Bent. — Naturalized in many places, often 

 found amongst cultivated grasses. Yields a large quantity of herbage, which 

 attains its maximum before flowering. A valuable and hardy grass, although 

 not affording such heavy yields as the Fiorin grass, A. alba b. stolonifera. 

 Holcus mollis, L. 

 „ lanatus, L. 



Soft Bent grasses. — Of no value to the cultivator, but, unhappily, 

 having acquired the name of Soft Fescue in this province, the seed is collected 

 and sown by inexperienced settlers, to their certain loss and disappointment. 



Setaria italica, P. de Beau v. — A strong growing grass, afibrding an 

 immense yield of coarse herbage and seed, has become naturalized in waste 

 places, roadsides, etc., and is always eaten by cattle; prefers moist places. 



Poa pratensis, L. Common Meadow grass. — If I were instructed to 

 select the one most valuable grass as yet introduced into this province, my 

 choice would fall upon this. It adapts itself to every variety of soil and 

 situation — in shade in the Domain grounds it makes a dense sward, and 

 gives a remarkably large yield — in the adjoining pasture it is of equal value — 

 it grows freely on stiff clays, and may be seen " clearing-out " other grasses in 

 scoria paddocks — affords a large yield of nutritious herbage — resists frost and 

 drought. It is naturalized in many places in the province, is spreading freely, 

 and would come into more general cultivation but for the difficulty experienced 

 in obtaining clean seed. 



P. annua, L. — Abundantly naturalized, yields a short but dense crop of 

 rather watery herbage, which soon dies off. Of no value to the cultivator. 



P. trivialis, L. Rough Meadow grass. — A valuable grass alike for pasturage 

 and hay ; flowers early, and is most nutritious when the seed is ripe. Yery 

 serviceable on shaded land and open foi'est. I have never seen it in cultiva- 

 tion in Auckland, although it is sparingly naturalized, but being closely cropped 

 by cattle does not increase. 



Briza viinor, L. Small Quaking-grass. — An annual grass of little value, 

 abundantly naturalized here, and yields a considerable quantity of light 

 herbage in the early spring. 



Dactylis glomerata, L. Cock's foot grass. — A rather coarse but nutritious 

 grass, yielding a large return, and perhaps better than any other kind com- 

 monly sown in the north for resisting the attacks of caterpillar. It has the 

 disadvantage, however, from its coarse growth, of killing off rye-grass, and 



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