luxuriance in the autumn, but affording a continuous yield; prefers moist soils, but has considerable power of adaptation.

Gastridium lendigerum, Beauv. Nit-grass.—Has been introduced with seeds of other grasses, and has become naturalized in many places. Yields a large quantity of seed, but comparatively little herbage.

Agrostis vulgaris, L. Common Bent.—Naturalized in many places, often found amongst cultivated grasses. Yields a large quantity of herbage, which attains its maximum before flowering. A valuable and hardy grass, although not affording such heavy yields as the Fiorin grass, A. alba b. stolonifera.

Holcus mollis, L.

" lanatus, L.

Soft Bent grasses.—Of no value to the cultivator, but, unhappily, having acquired the name of Soft Fescue in this province, the seed is collected and sown by inexperienced settlers, to their certain loss and disappointment.

Setaria italica, P. de Beauv.—A strong growing grass, affording an immense yield of coarse herbage and seed, has become naturalized in waste places, roadsides, etc., and is always eaten by cattle; prefers moist places.

Poa pratensis, L. Common Meadow grass.—If I were instructed to select the one most valuable grass as yet introduced into this province, my choice would fall upon this. It adapts itself to every variety of soil and situation—in shade in the Domain grounds it makes a dense sward, and gives a remarkably large yield—in the adjoining pasture it is of equal value—it grows freely on stiff clays, and may be seen “clearing-out” other grasses in scoria paddocks—affords a large yield of nutritious herbage—resists frost and drought. It is naturalized in many places in the province, is spreading freely, and would come into more general cultivation but for the difficulty experienced in obtaining clean seed.

P. annua, L.—Abundantly naturalized, yields a short but dense crop of rather watery herbage, which soon dies off. Of no value to the cultivator.

P. trivialis, L. Rough Meadow grass.—A valuable grass alike for pasturage and hay; flowers early, and is most nutritious when the seed is ripe. Very serviceable on shaded land and open forest. I have never seen it in cultivation in Auckland, although it is sparingly naturalized, but being closely cropped by cattle does not increase.

Briza minor, L. Small Quaking-grass.—An annual grass of little value, abundantly naturalized here, and yields a considerable quantity of light herbage in the early spring.

Dactylis glomerata, L. Cock's foot grass.—A rather coarse but nutritious grass, yielding a large return, and perhaps better than any other kind commonly sown in the north for resisting the attacks of caterpillar. It has the disadvantage, however, from its coarse growth, of killing off rye-grass, and

other weak growing kinds which may be sown with it. In the North it is usually relied upon for the staple, especially on bush paddocks.

Cynosurus cristatus, L. Crested Dog's-tail.—A valuable grass, especially for rather dry soils, and ought to be generally grown. Makes with Poa pratensis and Lolium perenne first-class pasturage on the scoria land about Auckland, and on ordinary soils in the Waikato.

Festuca, bromoides, L.—An annual grass, and abundantly naturalized, but of little value.

Festuca ovina, L. Sheep's Fescue.

" rubra, L. Reddish Sheep's Fescue.

Valuable grasses, especially on sheep-runs, but so rarely cultivated here as to form no appreciable portion of the pasturage.

Bromus erectus, Hud.

" commutatus, Schrad.

" mollis, L.

" racemosus, L.

Brome grasses.—Not cultivated here so far as I am aware, but naturalized to a greater or lesser degree, and eaten by cattle. B. commutatus is perhaps the most valuable. B. mollis is (on Dr. Schomburgh's authority) cultivated with advantage in South Australia, both for green fodder and hay.

Avena sativa, L. Oat.—Abundantly cultivated for green fodder, hay, and grain; naturalized in many parts of the province.

Lolium perenne, L. Rye-grass.—A well known and valuable grass, adapted to a wide range of soil and situation, but in the North apt to be destroyed by caterpillar. Commonly naturalized.

L. Italicum, A. Braun.—Occasionally cultivated with clover, etc., and sparingly naturalized. A valuable grass, but less capable of resisting drought and caterpillar than the last.

Cynodon Dactylon, Pers. Dog's-tooth.—Abundantly naturalized from the North Cape to Cambridge, and without question the best grass we have for resisting drought. Makes a compact sward, and is much eaten by cattle.

Anthoxanthum odoratum, L. Sweet Vernal grass.—Everywhere, both naturalized and cultivated. Grows quickly, affording a short but very dense crop; of most value early in the season. As is well known, imparts the peculiar fragrance to newly mown hay.

Eragrostis Brownii, Kunth.—An abundant naturalized grass at Kerikeri, Bay of Islands, producing a large quantity of slender herbage, which is greedily eaten by cattle. Chiefly grows amongst tea-tree, etc., and found also near Auckland, but not plentiful. I am inclined to think highly of this grass for cultivation in the North, but am doubtful as to its capability of resisting frost. Appears to prefer poor stiff clays, on which it attains great luxuriance.

Ceratochloa unioloides, P. de Beauv. Prairie grass.—Not cultivated in this province to any extent, but has become largely naturalized. Affords a very heavy yield, but on the whole appears better adapted for fodder than pasturage. When young it is eaten by cattle with avidity, but is usually passed over when old. Would probably possess greater value in Canterbury than in this province, as it roots deeply, and is able to endure a considerable amount of drought.

Stenotaphrum glabrum. Buffalo grass.—A smooth, stout-growing, procumbent grass; a great favourite with sheep, horses, and cattle, even when associated with rye-grasses and other ordinary cultivated kinds. It is rare here at present, but will, I anticipate, prove of great value, especially for planting on our clay tea-tree hills. At present it has not seeded freely, but may be expected to do so.

I regret my inability to give either native or settler's names of the native grasses, as requested. Very few indeed of our northern natives have any knowledge of the old native names, and my residence in the colony has been but short. Hierochloe redolens, and the more valuable Isachne australis, are alike called “Swamp-grass” by the settlers. Sporobolus elongatus is generally known as “Rat's-tail grass” as far south as Lake Taupo; but at Port Waikato it is called “Chilian-grass,” as it is erroneously supposed to have been introduced with the so-called “Chilian groundsel” Erigeron canadensis, a plant which appears to have been brought to this colony with grass seed from South America. I am not aware that other native grasses have received special names in this province, The common names for introduced grasses are applied in a somewhat arbitrary manner, which has occasionally proved a source of loss and vexation.

Several of the native-grasses, as Microlœna stipoides, Danthonia semiannularis, Agrostis æmula, etc., maintain their ground against, and unite with, several of the introduced kinds in the formation of natural pasture in many places in this province. The kinds just mentioned may often be seen mixed with Agrostis vulgaris, Anthoxanthum odoratum, etc., and especially with the little Yellow Suckling, Trifolium minus, forming large patches of gradually extending herbage amongst the tea-tree about Auckland. Some paddocks on the west side of the city appear to have been spontaneously formed in this way, although they have been improved by the depasturing of cattle.

The common red and white clovers, and the various medicks, with other forage plants, are largely naturalized in the province, and yield a large quantity of grateful food. On the volcanic hills about Auckland the toothed and spotted medicks, Medicago denticulata and M. maculata, yield largely in winter and early spring; the yarrow (Achillea Millefolium) is occasionally