E.—lo.
Report of the Natural Science Department, First Term, 1891— continued.
No. 94.—A sample of this plant, called wauraki by the Maoris, was sent from the North Island. The plant was supposed to have been the cause of the death of certain cattle which had been feeding on recently-burnt fern-lands, where the ranunculus was growing. The symptoms were inflammation of the membrane of the stomach, with appearance of intense pain. The plants of this genus are all acrid in different degrees, and another species common about here (11. scebratus, the most acrid of any) has been stated to have caused the death of a number of sheep in this district some years since. No. 134. —This plant was thought by the sender to be the Californian thistle. The star thistle is only an annual (closely allied to the English cornflower), and may be easily distinguished by the stiff spines—from Jin. to lin. long —projecting from underneath the flower-heads. These spiny heads are very injurious in sheep's wool. Nos. 145 and 146. —In connection with these two samples an experiment was made to test the statement that camphor assisted germination. The experiments showed an appreciable difference between the seeds moistened with solution of camphor and those with plain water. Nos. 154 and 226.—The samples are noticeable, owing to the presence of seeds of the Californian thistle. The samples seem to be quite distinct from one another, and show how easily this and other weeds may be introduced and spread through the country. I'armers cannot be too careful as to purity of their seeds. Nos. 169 and 214a.—This weed mats the ground completely together by means of its very fine underground stems, and it promises to give much trouble in eradicating it. It is one of the English perennial chickweeds, and differs from the common, hairy, annual duckweed (Cerastium viugatum) in having its petals about twice as long as the sepals. No. 176.—This grass was stated to come from very dry soil, and to have kept green all through the dry weather. It is an annual grass, which Parnell says is "of no agricultural value." Nos. 178 and 179. —These samples show the value of a special fog-cleaning apparatus. No. 178 is before cleaning, and No. 179 after. In connection with the seed-examination department a McLaren's Patent Seed-germiuator has lately been obtained from Edinburgh. It has not yet been fully tested, but the patentee claims that it prevents the growth of fungus, and gives rapid results. The principle seems good, there being adequate provision for heating and ventilation. 3—E. 10.
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No. Name. Source. "I 9 S ids iinx>urities per Cent., and Keniarks, 0 -fci nS a 204 205 206 207 208 209 Sedge Grass Tirnaru Is nigger-head (Carex virgata). Is Poa breviglumis. Is smooth-stalked meadow-grass (Poa pratensis). Is Poa breviglumis var. Is Poa colcnsoi. Flowering head of one grass— Poa intermedia —and leafy shoots of another, Danthornia sp. Is Anthericum hookeri. Poa colensoi var. Is Echinopogon ovatus. Consists of Trefolium minus, 89 ; white-clover, 7 ; ryegrass, 4; with odd hair-grass and mouse-ear chickweed. Is brown bent grass (Agrostis canina). Is Cerastium arvense, a perennial chickweed. Odd seeds of timothy, English millet (Milium effusum), &c. Plantain (Plantago lanceolata) Occasional sorrel, and various. Occasional timothy, and odd chamomile, &c. Occasional cleavers (Galium aparine). Pure. Occasional sorrel and cat's-ear. Pure. Odd seeds of fog, goose-grass, and cat's-oar. 210 211 212 213 Plant Grass Christchurcli Trefoil and whiteclover Rangitafca 214 214a 215 Grass Plant English red-clover .. Ohristehurch Chertsey Oamaru 93 216 217 218 219 220 221 222 223 224 225 English cow-grass English white-clover English alsike English trefoil English timothy Rye-grass 92 77 50 88 96 35 46 61 70 Cocksfoot Radish Cow-grass Waipawa Rakaia 226 227 Alsike Timothy Grass Plant Gore Methven Christchurch Occasional timothy and English millet, with odd Scotch thistle, sorrel, dock, alsike, and undetermined. Timothy, 4 ; and occasional red-clover, with odd seeds of small poas, Plantago sp., dock, rib-grass, oxeye daisy, arid Californian thistle Frequent white-clover and alsike, occasional cat's-ear, chickweed (Cerastium arvense), and fog, with odd rib-grass and sow-thistle. Is annual meadow-grass. Is bladder catchfly (Silene inflata). Is penny cress (Thlaspi arvense). Is narrow-leaved cress (Lepidium rudervale). Is knee-joint foxtail. Is field-spurrey (Spcrgula arvensis). Is a species of Galium. Is thorn apple (Datura stramonium). 228 229 230 231 232 233 234 235 Grass Plant College farm.. Rakaia College farm..