18 



PASTURE PLANTS AND PASTURES OF N.Z. 



normal seasons is sold at about 6^d. per pound. The seed 

 is apt to lose a large proportion of its germination capacity 

 after the first season. 



Prairie Grass {Bromus uniohides). A very strong grow- 

 ing grass, with broad, Ught green leaves. The sheath is 

 compressed into an oval shape, and is covered with velvety 

 hairs, while the blade is usually quite hairless. 



Prairie grass produces a great 

 wealth of fohage of the highest 

 palatability to cattle, horses and 

 sheep ahke. It starts into 

 growth extremely early in the 

 season, if, indeed, one should not 

 rather say extremely late, for it 

 often produces a great deal of 

 feed in early winter. It has, 

 however, the grave disadvantage 

 that when sown in mixtures it is 

 immediately eaten out. How far 

 this is due to the nature of the 

 grass, and how far to the small 

 amount introduced in the 

 mixture one is not prepared to 

 say. It is true, however, that 

 the grass appears to be permanent 

 along hedges and ditches where 

 the stock cannot easily reach it 

 (though this maybe largely due to 

 self -seeding), and that in one or two districts it is sown pure, 

 and then appears to survive stocking perfectly. If it is 

 sown pure, the stock can be removed when the Prairie Grass 

 is nearly bare ; but if sown in a mixture, it will, owing to its 

 great palatabihty, be eaten right out while there is still 

 abundance of feed in the paddock. It would, therefore. 



Fig. 10. — Prairie Grass. 



