NEW ZEALAND GRASSES

Temuka Leader, Volume I, Issue 67, 7 August 1878, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND GRASSES

The following is part of a review in the 4 N. Z. Times ’ of a work on the indigenous grasses of New Zealand, by John Buchanan, F.L.S.— Last year in the House of Representatives »Sir George Grey, K.C.B. moved that the sum of LIOO be set aside to pay the cost of preparing a work on the native grasses of New Zealand, and this, as the first instalment, redounds greatly to the credit of all concerned. Tiie introduction, by Dr Hector, under whose supervision the work lias been issued, explains the plan of action, and tells us that a cheaper edition will be issued, with plates reduced from naturesize by photo-lithography. He also points to the fact that Mr Buchanan’s long experience (27 years) as a botanist, combined with his great and accurate knowledge, with his original researches and his skill as a draftsman, have peculiarly fitted him to write this book. Parts I. and 11., now published, contain 21 plates of native grasses, which have been drawn with the most scrupulous care, and are marvels of accuracy and finish. They also contain concise definite descriptions, which enable any decently educated man to find out to what genus any grass belongs. These notes also give the distribution of the species, explain the p ates, and very wisely add th ir well-known non-botanical names. In the last part-to be issued will he an essay by Mr Buchanan on the uses of the. grasses and other forage plants of New Zealand, and therefore, to avoid repetition, only brief notices have been published with these plates. Of the grasses described by Mr Buchanan only a few seem fit fur pasture ; but probably such unfitness wou'd be ivm >ved in most instances by cultivation. Our common wheat is the product of crossing two grasses, and the careful cultivation of that cross ; and very many of the best and richest English grasses were at one time very poor, and afforded very little nourishment. Sir Julius Vogel proposed to have a State Forest Department, which would have proved of immense value to the St .t'*. It is to be hoped that Sir George O.rcy having seen the good work none by Mr Buchanan, and having learnt something of the value of New Zealand grasses,will go further and create a State Grass Department. The department should collect these varied grasses and cultivate them, by which means their value would be enormously increased. From the order of grasses man derives very much that conduces to his welfare. Grasses feed his cattle, sheep, and horses ; wheat, oats, rye, barley, millet, and Indian corn and rice are for himself ; beet supplies him with sugar ; and he derives from it a variety of arrack, rum, beer, and many other drinks. He uses bamboos (which grow well in the warmer parts of New Zealand) for water-buckets, quivers, arrows, bows, walking-sticks ; he eats the shoots, and makes a ferment out of the seeds, and uses it in five hundred other ways. He uses ergot, Job’s tears, schivert, and other varieties as medicines. From others lie derives oil of geranium, lemon-grass oil, and oil of verbena, and the precious spikenard oil menti. ned In the New Testament. From one variety he makes large quantities of paper, and we are pleased to hear that Mr Buchanan lias found a wiry-leaved grass which will make good paper. There is no single order in the botanical world which is so useful to man. In all parts of the globe man, both savage and civilised, has found how valuable are its properties. When wc reflect that there was a time when its numerous species were as wild and uncultivated as are now the native grasses of New Zealand, we may well believe that a careful study of their properties, and constant cultivation, would greatly inciease their value. A State Grass Department might do immense good, by collecting seeds and sowing them elsewhere, or by selling them to landowners. The department might sow seeds of Alpine grasses on the now barren mountains, thereby making them com} arativcly fertile and valuable, it might show how certain grasses would pay to cultivate for paper, for medicines, or for their odours. It would be able to tell laudowners what particular grass would best suit the peculiar character of their laud which grasses would best stand a long drought, which would grow best on barren bills, or on water-logged plains. In short, such a department might, and if well managed certainly would, do immense good. When the work is finished the people of New Zealand will be in possession of a book certainly of the greatest value, and probably more directly useful in its results than any other of a similar character.