io8 



Gciut : Botanical Survey of a Pasture. 



thus very quickly and easily removed, and the thickness of the 

 various layers of soil measured. The results may be shown 

 briefly thus, the differences of the surface soil being- specially 

 noted : — 



(1) Flat Area. 



(C. on Map.) Thickness of Bed. 



Fine silt ... ... ... 9 in. 



Subsoil ... .. ... 7 in. 



Clay ... ... ... ... 15 in. 



Shale ... ... at ••• 31 in- 



The silt is exceedingly fine and is characteristic of the 

 deposit from slow-flowing streams ; it has probably all been 

 deposited while this area was under water. 



The clay is stiff, impervious, yellow in colour, but varying- 

 to steely blue. The extent of these two beds points to the 

 greater width formerly of the now much reduced stream. 



The subsoil is intermediate and calls for no comment. 



Shale, which is reached at 31 in., is of a hard impervious 

 nature. 



(2) Slope (and Bank). 



Thickness of Bed. 



Surface Soil ... ... ... 18 in. 



Subsoil ... ... .. 19 in. 



Clay ... ... at ••37 



Shale not reached. 



The surface soil is of a sandy, open nature, and, as indicated, 

 of considerable depth. 



The subsoil and clay are the same in character as those 

 previously described. 



The great distinction between this area and the one Last 

 described is the total absence of the fine-silt surface soil. This 

 has either not been deposited (since the bank is never under 

 water) or it has been denuded off and the coarser material from 

 the sandstone ridge behind brought down on the clay. 



Vegetation Features. — A first analysis reveals four main 

 sub-divisions : — • 



(1) In the low-lying parts more or less in connection with 

 the streams a small ' marsh flora.' 



(2) Over the flat portion (C on map) short herbage, due 

 chiefly to the abundance of Crested Dogstail [Cyuosurus 

 crist(itus). 



(3) The slope with a lengthened vegetation composed of 

 taller growing grasses (the ditch dividing this area off sharply 

 from the last), through which are dispersed pure grass islands 



Naturalist. 



