Kirk. — On the Redamailoit of Sand Wastes. 53 



Paspalum distichum. — Common on beach margins in tlie jSTorth Island, and 



about Nelsonj forms a compact swai'd in rather moist situations. 

 Zoysia pungens. — Abundant on sandy and muddy beaches, etc., etc. ; forms a 



dense matted turf; greedily eaten by sheep and horses. 

 Dichelachne stipoides. — On sands north of the Hauraki Gulf; a fine wiry 



grass of tussocky habit. 

 Sporobolus elongatus, rat's-tail grass, chilian grass. — Abundant in the ISTortli 



Island and Nelson ; a strong, coarse grass capable of adajjting itself to a 



great variety of soil and. exposure ; eaten by cattle. 

 Psamma arenaria, marrem, Europe. — Cultivated in New Zealand; extensively 



used in Europe for binding sands."'' 

 Cynodon dactylon, doab grass, India. — Naturalized throughout the Colony: 



of great value. 

 Holcus mollis, soft fescue, Europe.- — ^Naturalized throughout the Colony ; 



valuable on account of its creeping roots; endures the sea-spray; herbage 



of little value. 

 Aira canescens, Europe. 

 Glyceria loliacea, Europe. 

 Poa brevigluniis. — Common on sands, etc., especially in the South Island; a 



grass of great value. 

 P. australis var. Icevis. — Common from Port Waikato southwards; resembles 



Dichelaclme stipoides in habit, but is more diffuse. 

 P. bulbosa, Europe. 



Festwca littoralis. — Common on sands in both islands ; of great value. 

 Triticum repe,ns, couch grass, Europe. 

 T, junceum, Europe. 



Creeping rooted grasses of great hardiness, but producing herbage of little 

 value. 



* In the course of a recent hasty walk on the beach between the town of "New 

 Plymouth and the Sugar Loaves, during the stay of a passing steamer, I had pleasure in 

 observing dead culms of an exotic grass apparently belonging to this species, and which 

 exhibited great luxuriance, being 4ft. to 5ft. in height. I was unable to ascertain if it 

 occurred in other localities in the district, or to procure any particulars respecting its 

 introduction ; but, from its being found in several patches of considerable extent and in 

 many widely-scattered and isolated tussocks, it would appear that seeds were scattei'ed 

 on the beach without protection. It is much' to be desired that any person acquainted 

 vnih. the circumstances under which the plant was introduced would j)lace a statement 

 thereof on permanent record, with particulars as to date and present extent of diffusion, 

 as precisely as can be ascertained. 



A considerable quantity of seed could be collected without difficulty, and, in some 

 cases, offsets might be taken off, so that with comparative!}' little expense a jjortion of 

 the beach might soon be fixed. Offsets must, in all cases, be taken off fsparingly, so as to 

 disturb as little of the fixed surface as possible, 



