490 



SUBANTAECTIC ISLANDS OF NEW ZEALAND. 



[Plant Formations. 



To a smaller extent, in localities near the homestead, English grasses {e.g., cocksfoot, 

 rye, sweet vernal grass, Yorkshire fog) are growing, but not in such abundance as 

 to give any hope that they will at any time form a considerable portion of the 

 pasture of the island. 



It is possible, of course, that with extensive sowings certain specially suited 

 foreign grasses might be prevailed upon to flourish even on this inclement island. 



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Fig. 2. — Cushion of PliyUnchne clarigera (Campbell Island). 



The Effect of Sheep on the Vegetation of the Lower Tussock Meadows. 



The smaller and more common tussock of the island, Poa litorosa (see fig. 3), 

 is also eaten out by the sheep, but tends to some extent to replace itself. There 

 are, of course, large areas, particularly near the coast-line and on the southern end 

 of the island, where it still flourishes in considerable abundance ; but in enclosed 

 paddocks where the sheep are collected it almost disappears. In the large home- 

 stead paddocks there is little to be seen in most parts but a few tussock-stumps 

 and vast quantities of Bulbinella. At a short distance they might be taken for 

 cultivated fields closely planted with leeks. The ground between the lilies is bare, 

 and these plants themselves are often not more than from 15 cm. to 25 cm. apart. 

 They frequently here grow on cushions 30 cm. or more high, consisting of their own 

 dead roots, or even of tussock-stumps. In other parts of the paddock on the bare 

 brown peaty soil there are a few specimens of Yorkshire fog, Marchantia, Carex 



