46 Transact ions. — Miscdlaneous. 



Where young plants of the niarrem or the lyme-grass can be procured, they 

 may be placed about fifteen inches apart, by simply making an incision with a 

 spade, inserting the plant, and pressing the adjacent sand about it v/ith the 

 foot. Festuca littoralis, which is common all round the coast, might be used 

 for the same purpose ; Poa australis van Icevis, an abundant grass from Port 

 Waikato southwards, is also available, as are the pingao i^Desniosclio&nus spiralis) 

 and the Spinifex hirsutus, which may be obtained in unlimited quantities on 

 all coast sand-hills in the colony, although they are not so effective as the 

 marrem, lyme-grass, and maritime fescue. 



Zoysia iningens, a creeping rooted grass, but with herbage rarely exceeding 

 two inches in height, might be sown or planted amongst the larger kinds ; its 

 herbage is succulent, and it is eaten with avidity by sheep and horses, while it 

 forms a remai-kably dense, compact sward. Foa breviglumis, a grass moi-e 

 common on sandy shores in the South Island than in the North, affords a 

 larger yield of herbage, and may be either sown or planted. Other suitable 

 plants for this purpose are mentioned in the appended list. 



In a few exceptionally quiet spots, grasses of a more nutritive kind might 

 be sown at once : the rat's-tail, or Chilian grass of the settlers, the doab grass, 

 buffalo grass, and the common meadow grass are well suited for this purpose, 

 alike from their creeping roots and dense yield of herbage. The sheep's fescue 

 grasses are also of great value. 



The plan of forming ropes of seeded hay, and fastening them on the sand, 

 has been described at length by Mr. Stewart, so that I need not refer to it 

 here. 



In spots where moisture percolates through the sand for a portion of the 

 year, the common water-cress might be sown or planted ; even if the su2)p]y of 

 moisture failed during a protracted drought, the matted roots and decaying 

 herbage would prevent the surface from being disturbed by the wind, and the 

 plant would start into luxuriant growth with the first showers. 



In partially-sheltered valleys amongst sand-hills — such, for instance, as are 

 found near the Manukau Heads — it might be worth while to try the experi- 

 ment of sowing wheat with subterranean trefoil and the native Foa brevi- 

 glumis. A small yield of grain might be expected, but the benefit to be derived 

 would arise from the decaying roots of the wheat, and subsequently of the 

 trefoil, affording additional nourishment for the meadow grass, so that a 

 compact sward would be. formed more speedily than by the ordinary method. 



But in all cases, in order to afford protection at the most vulnerable point, it 

 will be advisable to plant a belt of coarse-growing plants or small shrubs capable 

 of enduring the spray of the sea at high-water mark. TJiis should be of several 

 yards in width, varying according to tlie nature of the situation, degree of 

 exposure, etc., and may be composed of toe-toe grass (Arundo conspicuaj, 



