changes into its tissues, structures or parts, elements different from the others, the animals fed thereon will not only eat the fresh food with greater avidity, but they will digest and assimilate it better than if fed upon one kind alone, and some will grow, thrive, and fatten quicker upon it. And further, from the peculiar habits of growth, and their root and leaf action, the different species of grasses will, either in mixed pastures or alone, extract from the soil, the water, and the air, exactly such qualities and quantities of the elements as will build up their own tissues and products, and which they alone will be able to present in that peculiar form to the animals fed thereon; thus, from the very same fields and farms, the many different varieties, species, and genera of grasses, will not only grow and give larger quantity than one kind alone, but will present to the animals fed on this field or farm, a far larger number and amount of chemical elements than can any one or two species, and it does not require a very profound knowledge of physiology and dietetics to understand that varieties of food are very beneficial, for though to men and women a beef steak, or a vension haunch, may be very delightful occasionally, yet if they had only these all their lives for every meal, they would have to be starved into eating them; and precisely so with our sheep and cattle eating rye-grass and clover all their lives, yet they would thrive much better, and pay their owners more quickly, if fed on forty or fifty different species of grass and fodder plants. It is well known that the cheese made in certain parts of the world, cannot be made elsewhere, and this is because the animal cannot obtain the same food and assimilate its elements in other places. For while botanists have found over forty kinds of plants in the fields of Leicestershire, Gloucestershire, Huntingdonshire, and Cheshire, besides other places, and upon any of them the pedigree sheep and cattle can feed at their pleasure, it is hardly likely that they will thrive and pay as well when forced to live on two or three kinds. And while in the several parts of the earth, whether upon the Swiss mountains, the Dutch water meadows, the wild pastures of the Cape, America, or Australia, the animals fed there develope certain qualities and excellences, without you can provide them with the same grasses and fodders they will not do the same elsewhere. But in this favourable land of ours here we can, if we will, make these plants grow and thrive upon our fields and pastures, and our sheep and cattle will benefit by these introductions and being fed thereon. Now that population is pouring into this Colony, and the land will have to be more highly tilled and fully worked, it will be necessary to make the same quantity of land more profitable and yield a larger return per acre, and therefore the pastoralist must sow down fifty or sixty species of grasses, where before he has sown only one or two, and the farmer, if he wishes to

grow meat as well as grain, must largely increase the number of his fodder plants; not only must he grow several kinds of Sorghums, Maizes, Millets, Holcus, Andropogons, Panicums, and other such plants in the hot weather of summer, and feed his live stock therefrom, but he must bury them in silos, as the French farmers do, for feed in the winter, and at that season he will have the advantage over other parts of the world of growing feed in the winter itself, by planting those things that will grow favourably in the late autumn, the winter itself, and the very early spring. The Sugar Beet, the Prickly Comfrey, Cabbages, Turnips, Swedes, Kohl Rabi, various kinds of Vetches, winter Oats, Cape Barley, Prairie Grass, and other Brome grasses, with some of the best of the indigenous grasses of New Zealand added thereto, supplemented by Italian Rye, Devon evergreen Rye, several Poas, Anthoxanthums, and many other grasses. While the several kinds of Achillea, Pentria virgata, the various salt bushes, Apiums, Carrots, Menthas, Thymes, and Taraxacum will act as condiment and medicinal herbs to the sheep and cattle depastured on the places where they grow.

And here we must remember the writings and experiences of persons in England and countries with as severe a climate, will not serve us, as the conditions of our colony and climate are altogether different. The orange, the Eugenia, the guava, and the olive, which cannot bear the winter climate of the places round Great Britain, will here grow in the open air, and stand our winter frost, as they have done for some years in my experimental ground, is a proof of our milder climate. We must therefore experiment for ourselves, and thus build up a system of agriculture and grazing suitable for the peculiarities of this colony. But without further dwelling upon the difference of climate in this country, and the necessity of a different procedure for farmers and graziers to that adopted in Great Britain, we will now consider a few more grasses and fodders that might be grown in our fields and farms with great advantage.

Agrostis solandri.—This grass is a native of Eastern Australia, is there spoken of very highly as of a nutritious quality, it grows there a quantity of herbage during the winter season, and my experience of it in my test cultivation was, that it was not only good as a winter grass during the cold weather in New Zealand, but that from the greater moisture here, it grows further into the summer season as well. It may, therefore, be described as a very good permanent pasture grass for autumn, winter, and spring growth, and thus is a valuable addition to our permanent mixed pasture grasses. There are several varieties which I received from Australia, some much better than others.

Agrostis stolonifera.—A grass found indigenous in Great Britain, which Sinclair, and other writers on grasses, brought into prominent notice as a

grass that would cause cows to produce very rich milk, and was then called “butter grass.” It was much sown and cultivated in Ireland, and was there called “fiosin,” and highly valued; but during the past fifty years the extensive drainage operations have made it less esteemed, and this has been brought about by the drains drying the land, and rendering it less suitable for its growth, but on damp lands it is very valuable, as my experiments prove to me. Wherever I sowed it, upon damp or swampy lands, it gave a very large amount of exceedingly valuable herbage, and was eagerly sought for by the animals, who fattened upon it rapidly. It has proved itself a good grass for damp, undrained, or swampy lands, also along the edges of streams, or creeks near ground too moist for other nutritious grasses to succeed.

Bromus emarginatus.—This excellent grass should be introduced into all mixed pastures, as it grows all through the winter season and withstands the ground-frosts that bring so many other grasses to a standstill, while its abundant foliage gives an amount of feed during the cold wet weather that live stock seem greatly to relish. We may look upon this as a very valuable winter grass in these latitudes, and a most useful introduction into all moderately open alluvial or loam lands.

Andropogon laniger.—This fine grass is indigenous in the various parts of Eastern Australia. When growing it here, I found it began to shoot when the warm weather set in, and continued to grow during the summer, and seeded in the autumn; its short thickly set leaves were much relished by sheep, horses, and cattle, and analysis showed they were nutritious and fattening.

Basuta grass.—The seed of this grass was sent me to test, and upon sowing it in tilled loamy soil it came up freely, and shooting out formed a thick sward; its seed ripened in abundance; this was sown down and rapidly covered the ground, showing that this climate suited it. It gives a large quantity of herbage, and is green here summer and winter, and if not too closely fed or cut down, always shows rapid growth; stock like it. I think it would be of great benefit mixed with other grasses as it holds its own place amongst them.

Bromus ciliare.—This fine fattening grass produces an abundance of seeds that are as large as those of prairie grass, and though it is of a more spreading habit than prairie grass, it resembles it in general character, but possesses the merit over prairie grass, that it will bear feeding by stock better, and is not so easily destroyed, still it is not so well adapted for close feeding as some other grasses named, but proves itself an excellent grass for hay. It grows all the winter and during summer, if the drought is not too long continued, and starts afresh after the least rain.

Ceratochloa exaltata.—A strong-growing perennial grass; is useful for introduction into perennial mixed grasses, as it possesses a peculiar taste that causes live stock to select it from other kinds, gives a variety constantly growing for them to choose from, and, as it is nutritious, it is well adapted for sowing with other kinds, as it grows late in the autumn and in the early spring, when other grasses are not growing.

Dactylis altica.—This grass has the habit and general character of the cocksfoot, but is better suited for stiffer soils, where the Dactylis glomerata does not so well succeed. It grows all the year, but least in the driest weather; makes quicker growth than the Dactylis glomerata in winter. It is a good grass for permanent pasture, and should be sown when the cocks foot is not suitable.

Festuca aquatica.—This is a grass that should be sown down along the banks of rivers, creeks, streams, and other waters, as it will grow and thrive where no other grasses would succeed. It is much liked by stock, being fattening and nutritious; horses and cattle will eat it down to the ground, so that during summer not a blade can be seen, but the moment a shower comes the grass springs, and on all wet or occasionally wet ground, this grass ought to be sown.

Festuca billardieri.—An indigenous Australian grass, which I have found to be an excellent grass for permanent mixed pasture. It grows in the winter, spring, and autumn, and after every shower in the summer, at all seasons of its growth, will send up an abundance of highly-nutritious herbage, and is a grass all stock thrive on; it should be widely introduced. It is a producer of abundant seed, and will readily propagate itself if once fairly sown and fairly treated.

Glyceria aquatica.—This fine grass has proved itself with me a large producer of seed, by which it sows itself along the water-courses and swamps, sending out an abundance of green leaves all the year in all damp situations, so that the stock, in places where before only rushes and sedges grew, are able to keep themselves in good condition upon it. It is therefore a very desirable introduction into suitable places, as one of a mixture with others recommended for such situations, and where grasses suited for dry localities would fail.

Elymus arenarius.—This grass is an admirable introduction for all sandy lands, as it will help to fix shifting sand, and, with a little trouble at first, will make land available that otherwise would be useless; having procured seed of this Elymus, I sowed it, and having read the statement of writers, that it was worthless as a herbage plant, was surprised to learn that the cattle and sheep had eaten it down, and this they have continued to do, whenever they have been allowed to get at it. Upon analysing it, I was

astonished to find that it contained a considerable quantity of materials that the digestive organs would be able to convert into sugar and peptones, and that it would pass into their systems as nourishment, so that it is here not only a useful grass to fix sand, and grow where other grasses would not, but the conditions of this climate had made it a useful grass for live stock on places where other grasses would not live.

Poa aquatica.—This strong-growing water-grass is another of the useful grasses for wet, damp lands where other grasses will not grow, and should be sown as a mixture upon such wet places, as its season of greatest growth differs from that of others here described.

Poa aquatica of Australia.—This Australian water-grass is very different to the European Poa aquatica, but, having received the seed under this name and grown it, I found it a grass that, in damp situations, grew very fast in the hottest summer weather; it is therefore good to introduce it, as its season of strongest growth is different to the other water-grasses. It grows scarcely at all during cold weather in this colony.

Panicum longistylum.—This is a grass that should be introduced into permanent mixed pasture, as it grows during the autumn, when many other grasses are at rest, and continues here to throw up its singular seed-heads far on into the winter.

Paspalum scrobiculatum is also another very useful Australian grass, which grows well with me during the summer, and it would do well if introduced into permanent pasture; both stock and sheep like it. The Australian variety differs in several respects from the Paspalum scrobiculatum indigenous to New Zealand.

Phalaris bulbosa or P. minor.—This excellent perennial grass produces a large quantity of fine sweet foliage, very readily eaten by stock, and which quickly puts them in good condition. It keeps green far into the winter, even ripening its seed-heads in the late autumn. It is well worthy of introduction into permanent pastures, and its seeds, which are quite as large as the Phalaris canaricnsis, will, if this grass is made into hay, add to its nutritious qualities.

Danthonia penicillata.—A narrow-leaved native grass of Queensland, that seems in this climate to have changed its habits, and grows well through the autumn and winter, during which seasons its fine green foliage is picked out from the other grasses and eaten readily by cattle and sheep, and is useful in mixed pasture from its growing during the season when the many other grasses are at rest.

Festuca dimorpha is another of the grasses that it would be advisable to introduce, from its habit of winter growth, which makes it of value when feed is less abundant.

Festuca drymija.—This is also a grass that may be sown with advantage, as in the late summer rains, and in the autumn and winter, it disregards the frosts in these parts and goes on growing, sending up its leaves that supply a nutritive feed to the animals that are evidently glad to get it, and which thrive thereon.

Bromus giganteus.—I received seed of this grass from two different sources, namely, Great Britain and Australia. They appear to possess somewhat different habits of growth, although their botanical characters are similar, the British variety growing better in the late winter, and the kind from Australia best in the autumn, but both throwing up large quantities of tender succulent feed, bearing feeding by cattle well, but must not be too closely cropped by sheep. When sown down in permanent pasture they add greatly to the quantity of hay, both to its bulk as well as its nutritious qualities, and can therefore with advantage be introduced into permanent pastures.

There are several other bromes, and many other varieties of grasses that are suitable for the pastoralist to sow, and which I should like to mention, but must wait for another opportunity; and I will now pass on to those plants that will yield fodder to the farmer and others who may require them.

The Symphytum asperrimum (prickly comfrey) has of late years again received considerable attention, and wishing to test its value in New Zealand, I obtained roots of the different kinds from England, France, Australia and other places, and having got them, subjected them to test culture. They have grown and thriven well, and I have no doubt that this climate and the conditions it will find here, will suit it very well. I believe it will be a very valuable plant for using as fodder for cows to increase their milk, for feeding bullocks, horses, and sheep. There are several varieties have been sent me, some are more vigorous growers than others, they can be easily brought here in wardian, or such-like cases, with very few failures. My last consignment was a case containing one thousand small roots, they were four months before I could get them in their case. I had them put in the ground by common labourers, and yet over eight hundred of them are now growing, they have had no watering during warm weather, or other artificial care, as I wanted to try what they would do if planted out and left to themselves, and the result has been that they stood the driest, hottest, coldest, and most windy weather, and grew through it all, so that, bearing this rough treatment without any digging, manuring, hoeing, or other cultivating, and yet growing vigorously, they must be regarded as able to stand unfavourable conditions well, and if, with this treatment, they prove that they can keep a large number of live stock to the area upon which

they grow, and make them improve in condition quickly, they may then be regarded as a useful and good addition to our fodder plants, but as I never think much of any plant until it has had five or six years testing, it is too soon yet to say much in favour of this plant.

The Prosopis pubescens, or screw bean tree. As soon as I heard this plant was considered to be a useful one for fodder, I procured specimens and seed. The seeds vegetated, and the plants are growing slowly, so that in a few years we shall be able to learn whether it will grow freely in this country. I read of a strange test which was applied to try the use of this tree. A horse was given all he liked to eat of the pods with the seed in them, and he liked them so well that he ate about four pounds of the dry husks or screw pods. The result was what might have been expected. The horse was found dead the following morning. No doubt the same event would have occurred had the horse been fed with any other such dry material, and, although the horse's death was attributed by the writer to the poisonous effect of the screw bean, I think it was rather to be ascribed to the large amount of dry husk swallowed, as a horse has often killed himself by eating too freely wheat chaff, bran, or even whole wheat itself; so the death of this animal does not prove that the screw bean is poisonous, but that too large an amount of dry food becomes injurious to any animal partaking too freely of it. But there are better trees of this Prosopis genus than the screw bean, and some of them are found most excellent fodder for horses, and other live stock where they grow, and I intend to get them as soon as possible and try them here.

There are also among the plants that are worthy of culture as annuals by farmers for fodder to cut green, or to dry and make into hay, several of the millets that will do well here, and yield a large crop of herbage and seed, and that are readily eaten by horses, cattle, and sheep.

A millet from Queensland I tried. It began to grow in the spring, coming up very quickly; by the autumn it had ripened its seed; the herbage is tender, succulent, and relished by all stock; it grows about three feet high, shooting out thickly.

A millet from France much resembles the preceding, but bears a larger and more abundant seed; it sends out branches from the joints, which also seed; from the large quantity of seed and its succulent green stems and leaves, it proves itself a useful fodder-plant.

Milium effusum is another plant that gives a large quantity of seed, and as it will grow under trees or bush, it might be sown there in the place of other kinds not suitable; it also does well if grown with tares or vetches, and when cut together can be used as a fodder with great advantage.

Hungarian millet also does well here, and ripens its enormous heads of