4 PLANTS OF NEW Z]':ALAXD 



■A grassy sward, which would in spring and snnnner he s|)angled 

 whir tiowers. In New Zealaird, they are covered with a 

 vegetation of a ver\- different type. As far north as Lake 

 Tanpo, it consists chiefl>- of trissock grass, toi-toi, and cabbage 

 tree (palm-lih'). This })laiit fornraf.ion is most highl\' developed 

 in Canterbury, wirere wide open tussock-clad plains cover an 

 area of two and a iralf million acres. Tlie Englishman, on his 

 arrival here, is puzzled Ijy the ap)pearance of detached hillocks 

 of grass, in place ot the continuous turf of the green fields to 

 which he is accustomed. He cannot understand that this drv 



Fi^. 1— Tussock Coniiii->'. 



hard wir\- straw can rephice, to a large extent, the pasture 

 lands of England. This plant association not (inly covers 

 much of the fiat country, l)ut is found in man>- places 

 throughout the South Island upon the hills, especiall>- on the 

 ea.stern slopes of the I'anges. The chief species of grasses 

 found in it are Pua (-((cspitosa and Fcsttica (luriiisnihi, but 

 some I'anthomas are also to be met \vith in srnlr situations. 



Tlie tussock country is dearly loved b>' every New Zealander. 

 It is full of associations for liiiii. The stock-rider, the shepherd, 

 the swagger, and even tin; sun-downer know every aspect of 



