Chapter X. AUCKLAND AND CAMPBELL PASTURES.

Otago Witness, Issue 1994, 12 May 1892, Page 43

Chapter X. AUCKLAND AND CAMPBELL PASTURES.

Live Stock Liberated on Islands — Abundant Supply of Large Grasses— A Swhet-Soentkd Grass Peculiar to Auckland IslesBush Feed— Lay ov Country fob Shelter to Stock—Lieut.-Goveb-nor on the climate, &o.

Incidental references bave been made to the fact of live stock — more especially sheep and cattle — having been liberated, and although nothing is said to induce the belief that the experiment has been a great success, one or two allusions go to show that it has not proved an utter failure. Indeed, we may reasonably conclude that, under proper supervision, the stock would have become much more numerous than they ares opposed to be.

The woid "supposed" is used significantly, as it will be borne in mind that these, visits of inspection must to a great extent be coastal, and unless the sheep happen at the moment to be roaming about in the vicinity of tbe harbours, no opportunity is afforded for ascertaining their real numbers. Detachments may and no doubt bave taken up their quarters in tbe interior and in out-of-the-way places, where they are lees liable to be molested ; and of these no account can be rendered.

The two principal islands— Auckland and Campbell — are unquestionably well supplied with feed. The smaller grasses are rare, and considering the wet, spongy nature of the soil, it is doubtful if finer grasses could be made to thrive. Both islands, however, carry an abundant supply of the large, rank grasses, quite good enough for feeding hardy breeds of cattle.

Prominent amongst these is a large littoral tussock grass, perennial, with culms from 2ft to 3ft high. It belongs to the variety of Poa foliosa, and has been named the Auckland Island poa. It seems to be alike common to the Campbell and Auckland Island?, and grows in large areas, both at sea level aud on the hills. It has been known to the New Zealand flora for the last 14 or 15 years, and was first got on the Trap Rocks, south of Stewart Island. Hooker says of it (Fl. Antarct, i, 99), " It has a large growth, and very leafy, affording a rich, nutritions food for animals. In Borne cases it forms large mounds, or tussocks, not unlike the Dactylis caespitosa of the Falkland Islands (tbe tussock grass), but smaller, with, however, similar luxuriant habit." "This valuable grasp," adds a writer jn " Indigenous Grasses of New Zealand," " would no doubt repay the

expense of cultivation in New, Zealand. It may be difficult to overcome the prejudices which exist against all large tusßOck grasses, arising no doubt from an ignorance of their true value ; but no experiments are necessary to establish the value of the species, as it is well known as being very fattening for large stock." Another kind peculiar to both island?, and which is found in abundance, is a broadleaved oat tussock, closely resembling the Danthonia flavescens. It is a large, coar&e tussock grass, with culms 3ft to sft, and about £in in diameter. It is a kind of snow grass, and in the Middle Island affords both food and shelter for sheep during continued snow storms. It is further spoken of as affording an unlimited amount of fibre material for the manufacture of paper. Its counterpart (Danthonia flavescens) is largely distributed over the Alps of Canterbury, the Otago Lakes district, Rock and Pillar range to Maungatua, and the West Taieri, where, by cutting as fodder when the plant is in flower, an abundant supply of winter food is secured.

Then there is a sweet-scented grass peculiar to the Auckland Isles which has many qualities in common with the Hierochloe redolens, the empty glumes of the latter, however, being* much smaller. One peculiarity is that in low altitudes . it is larger and coarser than under sub-alpine conditions. It is partial to littoral swamps, where it often attains 4ft and sft in height,

In Campbell Island pastures the Hierocbloe redolens is in great abundance. That grown in the highlands is reported to be most succulent, and in every way well adapted as pasture for both cattle and sheep. Then, again, there is, common to both islands, an immense natural order of the Cyperaceoe, both in its grass-like and rushlike conditions ; likewise, the stiff rush-like and also the flat-leaved Juncus, the latter, so far as has been ascertained, being confined exclusively to th 6 Aucklands. Its counterpart, being the tufted leafy sorts, fastigiately branched at the base, attaining to a height of from lin to Sin, is got in boggy places at the Campbells as well as the Aucklands. Two kinds of the Rostkovia have also been found. One, having large flowers, a creeping rhizome, and erect, is 'got amongst the bogs on the hills at Campbells ; and a Btill larger species, with leaves from 9in to 12in — in great quantities in rocky places and on bare lands— amongst the hills at the Aucklands.

Besides ground pastures there is a large amount of bush feed, upon which both sheep and cattle are known to thrive immensely. The koromiko, for example, is largely distributed amongst the bush of both islands. It is described as being a handsome and distinct species, easily recognised by its oblong spreading leaves and large white flowers. Both in its nutritive and medicinal properties it is, on the authority of- Kirk, stated to be quite equal to the New Zealand growth. For shelter purposes, both the lay of the country and the nature of the bush are admirable. This is a matter of great consideration, as there can be no doubt but that these places are subject to violent gales. That fact is made apparent both from the nature of the bnsh and the general aspeot of the country. Lieutenant-governor Enderby writes : " The climate, though boisterous and subject to much rain, is healthy, although attempts have been made to prove the contrary. Cases of rheumatism occurred, as might have been expected, situated as the persons were who accompanied me to the islands, numbering together 300, but no death arising from the climate or disease contracted on shore occurred in three and a half years whilst I was there. The temperature is very equable, the snow never lying more than three days, except on the summits of the hills. The winds are violent and of long duration. The gales are mostly from the north-west, although I experienced two from the westward unusually strong."