GRASSES AND FORAGE PLANTS BEST ADAPTED TO NEW ZEALAND.

Patea Mail, Volume II, Issue 147, 6 September 1876, Page 3

GRASSES AND FORAGE PLANTS BEST ADAPTED TO NEW ZEALAND.

[LYTTELTON TIMES.] Timothy or Meadow Cat’s-Tail ( e Plilcum pratense’) I will next refer to as taking a high rank in the list of useful grasses. Tins is also a truly permanent grass, and it should form a portion of every mixture particularly in heavy damp soil, where it attains great luxuriance. It will, however, thrive in almost any soil, but on the lighter lands it becomes much dwarfed in size, and almost appeal’s to be a different variety. Parnell describes it ns a hard kind of stock, but I have no hesitation in saying that he is entirely wrong in this description. It is a sweet Succulent grass, greedily eaten by all kinds of stock, and as far as I have been able, to judge, I believe it to possess highly fattening qualities. In America it is a favorite grass, ns it withstands the hard winters better than any other kind of grass, and it is almost universally cultivated there, while rye grass is seldom sown, because it will not bear the rigor of winter. Meadow Foxtail ( £ Alopocurus pratensis’) is a grass less known in New Zealand than those I have already doscibcd. It is only adapted for pastures which are intended to bo permanent, as it docs not attain perfection in less than three or four years. In England it is one the principal grasses in all rich natnra| pastures, and no doubt it is well worth Cultivation in this Colony, although my own experience does not enable me to speak positively as to its qualities. Smooth-Stalked Meadow Grass (‘ Poa pratensis’) is a favorite grass ot mine, and I think it should form a portion of all permanent pastures, although for alternate husbandry 'it is not so well adapted, owing to its creeping roots being difficult to eradicate. From my experience of it, I can speak most favorably of it as a pasture grass. It forms a thick sward, and although it is rather susceptible of dry weather, no grass so soon shows the enlivening effects of a shower. Stock of all kinds are fond of it, and it withstands the winter well It is highly prized in America, where it is known as the “ Blue Grass of Kentucky,” or “June Grass.” The last name it derives from the mouth in which the seed is ripe, and the former from its being the prevalent grass in the State of Kentucky, where its presence is said to enable the graziers to run their stock in the field throughout the winter. _ It is one of the earliest grasses, which is another point in its favor. Rough-Stalked Meadow Grass (‘ Poa Trivialis’) is highly spoken of by writers, particularly by Sinclair, who ascribes many good qualities to it, but admits that it neither stands the frost so well, nor springs so early as the smooth-stalked variety. From my own personal observation I can say little about grass, but there can be little doubt that it deserves a place in our mixtures. Wood Meadow Grass Poa Nemoralis empervirens’) was introduced here a few years ago by Mr Tinline, under the name of “ Virginian Evergreen Grass,*’ and it appears to be a very valuable grass. Its natural habitat is in woods Under shade, but it thrives in open pastures, and produces a largo quantity of herbage. It begins to grow early in spring, and Jretains its verdure in the driest weather. Altogether it is a most desirable grass, and should form part of -every mixture. Annual Meadow Grass (‘ Poa Annua’) I do not notice with the intention of recommending it to be sown on cultivated land, but I believe it would bo a desirable grass to sow on our poorer plains, or hills which are never likely to be cultivated. It is the most universally diffused of all grasses, being found not only in every situation in Great Britain, but in almost every country in the world, and hence we/may infer that if it obtained a footing on) a poor run in New Zealand, it would soon spread and afford a moderate supply of herbage on ground which at present yields none. It is greedily eaten by all descriptions of stock, and although it does not yield largely, it is almost constantly green and appears to grow equally well in summer or winter. It is familiar to all of us as the green grass in parks and squares in towns, and as the best of gardeners in persisting to grow on footpaths and borders in spite of eveiy effort to get rid of it. This quality, however, is the very one we want to see in a grass for the localities indicated by me ; but at the same time I do not think it would be desirable to add. tbis grass to our cultivated pastures. There are other varieties of meadow grass, many of which may be added with advantage to mixtures for laying down pastures, but I need not refer to them specially here. Meadow Fescue ( e Festuca pratensis’) is one of our most valuable perennial grasses, affording a large supply of herbage of a highly nutritions quality, and rdished by all kinds of stock. It does not arrive at maturity so soon as many other grasses, and consequently when sown care should be taken to add such grasses as Italian rye grass, which will cover the ground until the fescue has attained full vigor. It is one of the grasses which form the rich natural pastures of England, where it thrives best on clay soil. Tall Fescue ‘ Festuba elatior’) doas not differ essentially from the meadow lescue, but it is a coarser grass, yielding a largo crop of herbage, which notwithstanding its coarseness, is relished by stock.’ Various Leaved Fescue (‘ Festuca heterophylla’) is another valuable grass.

possessing many of the good qualities of meadow lescue besides growing equally well on a greater variety of soils, which is an advantage. Hard Fescue (‘ Festuca duriuscnla’) is one of the best fescues for general purposes, thriving as it does on a great variety of soils; standing the heat of the summer and rigor of winter equally well. It docs not produce nearly as much herbage as meadow fescue, and hence it is bettor adapted for sowing in pastures intendel for sheep than in the heavier lands, which are more suitable for cattle. This grass is stated by Hooker to bo indigenous to New Zealand, and he describes it as abundant on the hills of the Middle Island. Rod Fescue (‘ Festuca rubra’) is another variety very nearly allied to the grass last alluded to, and possessing most of its qualities. Sheep Fescue (‘ Festuca ovina’) is a dwarf grass of the fescue tribe, and in Britain it is an indispensable grass in sheep pastures. It’s foliage is very fine, but it grows in tufts, with short stiff uprigl t leaves, producing a much mailer quantity of herbage than the larger varieties. It is very much relished by sheep (hence its name), and is preferred by them to all other grasses. . In fact Linmcus goes the length of saying that sheep have no relish for the natural pastures of Europe where this grass docs not exst. Fino-Loavod Fescue (‘ Festuca tonuifolia’) is nearly allied to sheep’s fescue in its general characteristics, but in its habit of growth it is less tufted, and its leaves are longer and of a more vivid green color. Crested Dog’s-Tail (‘ Cmynosuruscristatus’) is a gras of which I have formed a very high opinion, and is one which I think will bo of great utility in this Colony by spreading over the hills and other parts of the country which will never be cultivated. It produces a medium amount of fino succulent herbage grateful to all descriptions of stock, who, however, refuse to eat the seed stems, and hence the seed is always left to be scattered along the ground by the wind. With regard to soil it is not at all particular, but will grow almost anywhere, even on the poorest land. In Scotland I have observed it growing luxuriantly on heathery moor, adjoining land which had been reclaimed, and from which the seed had been blown by the wind. At the same time it does not object to rich soil, and in the best natural pastures in England it is almost invariably found. In every way I look upon it as a most valuable grass, and I recommend it to be sown, not only on cultivated land as a mixture with other grasses, but also on the poor plains and rough hills, with the view of its spreading over the country