FARMERS’ UNION

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LVI, 24 November 1924, Page 3

FARMERS’ UNION

LECTURE AT WAKAFUAKA

Under the auspices of the local branch of the Farmers’ Union, a lecture was delivered on Saturday evening by Mr VV. 0. Davies, of the Cawthron .Institute, the subject being “Our Common Grasses.” There was a good'attendance of members and their friends, and the lecture, which was illustrated by lantern slides from original photographs, was followed with close attention. In his- introductory remarks the lecturer observed that the grasses. "t wiiteii til efts ate oyer 3000 species, ml inclwdnig kiuidpecies arid yarieticfS, could fairly lit? described as the most important plants in the World, contribu - ing more towards its food supply than any other botanical order. In fact, weie all plants but the grasses to be rehUrtod from the face of the earth, the «HI« wants of malt could still bo supplied by them. It was not intended, however, to deal with the economic aspect of the subject,- nor with such important problems as the' composition and improvement of pastures, the varieties of grass most suitable for. different climates and clesses of soil, grass seeds and their impurities, any one of which, it was pointed out, would afford abundant material for consideration on a future evening. Dr. this occasion his audience were asked to view the grasses, . not from the standpoint of their potentialities m bread, beef, and buiterfat, but as exceedingly interesting plants. Having explained what a grass is, and pointed out the main differences between grasses, sedges and rushes, Mr Davids proceeded to sketch the life history of a grass, from seed to seed, using as a type the common oat. The next step was to deal with the main variations in the part? of grasses, such as the stems. lealsheaths, leaves, ligules, auricles, alw inflorescences. Each tvpe was illustrated by lantern slides of well-known plants, and the main features likely to lie of service to farmers, in the identification of species were pointed out- ? At the conclusion of the lectured a hearty vote of thanks was. accdrded* to the lecturer, and to Mr Rigg, who kindly acted as lantern, operator. . ! By special request, Mr Davies will ilea! further with the subject in a lecture on “The Identification of Common Grasses” or December 6th.