﻿308 Transactions. — Botany. 



The natural habitat of the Poa nemoralis is shady woods, particuLirly 

 alpine situations, and these conditions were probably wanting in the res})ective 

 situations on which the experiments were conducted. The latter of the Poas 

 has been extensively experimented upon during the last two years in different 

 parts of the pi'ovince, as well as in the Amiiri district of the province of 

 Nelson, and casual information has reached the committee of its likelihood to 

 prove a very valuable addition to our exotic grasses, particularly in hilly 

 districts, where its remarkable stoloniferous habit and grazing capabilities will 

 be of advantage in occuj)ying tracts of hill country. 



This grass was introduced in considerable quantities by the Messrs. Gr. and 

 J. Tinline and Mr. Caverhill, from the United States of America, and is there 

 termed Yirginia-grass. 



I am aware that there are other sorts of exotic grasses that are nseful for 

 special purposes, such as water meadows. The committee, however, were of 

 opinion that no information was to be had bearing upon this particular part of 

 the subject, and therefore did not place several grasses used for such purposes 

 in the catalogue of sorts for which information was asked. 



It is much to be regretted that fuller information was not supplied 

 respecting the soil, with sub-soil, on which the different sorts of grasses were 

 growing, as the influence of soils on vegetation rules to a great extent the sorts 

 of grasses that are suitable ; and it may be that some sorts which have to a 

 certain extent been iinfavourably spoken of, were growing on soils wholly 

 unsuited for favourable comparison. 



The following instances will make my meaning clear : — 



Cynosurus cristatus (Crested Dogs'-tail) does not thrive well on fertile 

 clay soils, nor on alluvial bottoms, but for poor clay, high lying clay, light 

 chalk, brashy limestone, or sandy soils, it is eminently adapted. 



Poa trivialis (Rough-stalked Meadow grass) does not do well on fertile clay 

 soils, nor on loams derived from the old or new red sandstones, but on all other 

 medium soils is one of the most important grasses. 



Festuca 2^')'atensi9 (Meadow Fescue) is one of the best grasses on alluvial 

 or clay soils of all descriptions, but on limestone, chalk, or other soils of a light 

 character, it is not found to thrive. 



These instances prove the necessity for the character of the soils being 

 thoroughly understood before a judicious selection of grasses can be made for 

 different localities, and it is in this respect that the Committee feel that the 

 information at their command has not been so specific and full, considering the 

 magnitude of the subject in its relation to the province, as would warrant them 

 in arriving at a definite conclusion in respect to certain exotic grasses. 



