﻿Report on Native and Introduced Grasses. 297 



other weak growing kinds which may be sown with it. In the North it is 

 usually relied npon for the staple, especially on bush paddocks. 



Cynosurus cristatus, L. Ci-ested Dog's-tail. — A valuable grass, especially 

 for rather dry soils, and ought to be generally grown. Makes with Foa pra- 

 tensis and Lolium perenne first-class pasturage on the scoria land about Auck- 

 land, and on ordinary soils in the Waikato. 



Festuca hromoides, L. — An annual grass, and abundantly naturalized, 

 but of little value. 



Festuca ovina, L. Sheep's Fescue. 



,, rubra, L. Reddish Sheep's Fescue. 

 "Valuable grasses, especially on sheep-runs, but so rarely cultivated 

 here as to form no a2:)preciable portion of the pasturage. 



Bromus erectus, Hud. 



„ covimutatus, Schrad. 



,, ■ mollis, L. 



,, racemosus, L. 



Brome grasses. — - Not cultivated here so far as I am aware, biit 

 naturalized to a greater or lesser degree, and eaten by cattle. B. commutatus 

 is perhaps the most valuable. B. mollis is (on Dr. Schomburgh's authority) 

 cultivated with advantage in South Australia, both for green fodder and hay. 



Avena sativa, L. Oat. — Abundantly cultivated for green foddei', hay, 

 and grain ; naturalized \\\ many parts of the province. 



Lolium p>erenne, L. Rye-grass. ■ — -A well known and valuable grass, 

 adapted to a wide range of soil and situation, but in the JSTorth apt to be 

 destroyed by caterpillar. Commonly naturalized. 



L. Italicum, A. Braun. — Occasionally cultivated with clover, etc., and 

 sparingly naturalized. A valuable grass, but less capable of resisting drought 

 and caterpillar than the last. 



Cynodon Dactylon, Pers. Dog's-tooth. — Abundantly natui'alized from the 

 North Cape to Cambridge, and without question the best grass we have for 

 resisting drought. Makes a compact swai'd, and is much eaten by cattle. 



Anthoxanthum odoratum, L. Sweet "Vernal grass. — Everywhere, both 

 naturalized and cultivated. Grows quickly, affording a short but very dense 

 crop ; of most value early in the season. As is well known, imparts the peculiar 

 fragrance to newly mown hay. 



Fragrostis Brownii, Kunth. — An abundant naturalized grass at Kerikeri, 

 Bay of Islands, producing a large quantity of slender herbage, which is 

 greedily eaten by cattle. Chiefly grows amongst tea-tree, etc., and found also 

 near Auckland, but not plentiful. I am inclined to think highly of this grass 

 for cultivation in the North, but am doubtful as to its capability of resisting 

 frost. Appears to prefer poor stiff clays, on which it attains gi'eat luxuriance. 



