On the Tussac Grass. 
77 
though I would always try both. I should also be glad to hear 
of some having been tried on inland bogs, as the bog of Allen 
and " Chatmoss." I have forgot to mention that I would sow 
the seed very early in the spring, and not too deep. I need not 
say that it will be a source of pride to me to be of any service to 
your Lordship, either in procuring seed or affording information 
at any time. 
With great respect, I have the honour to be 
Your Lordship's most obedient servant, 
(Signed) R. C. Moody. 
Government House, Port William, Falkland Islands, 
%th January, 1846. 
[From the Irish Farmers' Journal, May 20, 1846.] 
The Tussac grass in its early stage requires gentle treatment, otherwise 
the young plants will fail after they have vegetated ; and during the 
first year they appear delicate and uncertain : at least such is the result 
of my observations. I do not mean, however, to infer that the plant will 
not prove sufficiently hardy for our climate ; on the contrary, I think it 
abundantly so : but more than one half of the plants raised here became 
sickly and dwindled away, without any apparent cause I could perceive, 
after they were planted out last May. Considering this occurred from 
their being deprived of saline matter, I had a very weak solution of com- 
mon salt in water tried on two plants, leaving the others as they were. 
This solution was kept fully six inches from their roots, and did not ap- 
pear to have any effect. The plants only commenced to grow freely 
towards the end of August, when they continued to make considerable 
progress until the middle of November. Being anxious to increase the 
stock as speedily as possible, and ignorant of the effect our winter would 
have upon them, I had the strongest plants taken up, divided, and re- 
planted in a glazed frame, where only one out of the eight survived the 
winter. Three others were lifted with balls of earth, and potted without 
being disturbed. They continued to grow during the winter, and so did 
one good plant which was left without any protection in the open bor- 
der, and which is now the best we have. It is growing vigorously, and 
will afford good side-shoots for propagating. These grow readily, if 
carefully slipped off, and planted in small pots at this period of the 
year. I have, therefore, no longer any doubt of the Tussac grass being 
freely introduced within a short period. From one good plant perhaps 
forty may be propagated in one season, if taken early in the year, as the 
offsets soon become strong, and afford young plants in their turns ; nei- 
ther have I any reason to doubt its suitableness for inland situations. 
Mr. George, gardener at Clonbrenny, county Meath — who, for intelli- 
gence and knowledge of his profession, is surpassed by very few in his 
line — informs me that the single plant he raised is now growing most 
vigorously, and producing plenty of young shoots. He further states 
that he is cultivating it in well-manured, rich, loamy soil, mixed with 
sand. The strongest plant we have is growing in peat and sand, where 
