AN ECONOMIC INVESTIGATION OF THE MONTANE TUSSOCK-GRASSLAND OF NEW ZEALAND.

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume XVIII, Issue 6, 20 June 1919, Page 321

AN ECONOMIC INVESTIGATION OF THE MONTANE TUSSOCK-GRASSLAND OF NEW ZEALAND.

II. RELATIVE PALATABILITY FOR SHEEP OF THE VARIOUS PASTURE-PLANTS.

By

Dr. L. COCKAYNE,

F.R.S.

GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS REGARDING PALATABILITY.

A S explained in the introductory article to this series (published AS explained in the introductory article of the first duties in the in the Journal for January last) one of the first duties in the economic investigation of the grassland is to ascertain with

exactitude what species are eaten by sheep, and especially the relative palatability of such species. It is, indeed, obvious that an accurate knowledge - of these matters is fundamental to any scheme for improving the pastures. That this knowledge is not already the common property of ' sheep-farmers after their experience of nearly seventy years' continuous grazing of the pastures is, at first thought, hardly to be believed. Nevertheless, in large measure it is true. This unexpected state of affairs is due to various causes, not the least of which is that the sheep-farmer is concerned rather with the number of sheep his land can profitably carry than with the

special reasons for such carrying-capacity. Further, excepting those few. grasses easily recognizable for which there are popular names —names, however, used quite looselyhe knows but little regarding the composition of his pastures. Even with regard to the known grasses, as pointed out in my last article (p. 5), two neighbouring sheep-farmers, each of exceptional experience* may hold diverse views with regard to their palatability. Nor is such divergence of opinion confined -to the pastoralist, for when the writings of New Zealand botanists regarding the palatability of the indigenous grasses are compared the divergence of opinion becomes still more marked. This may readily be seen from the table drawn up as an appendix to this article, where various opinions of botanists are compared, commencing with those of Buchanan (for many years the leading authority on New Zealand grasses) in 1869 (“ Transactions of the New Zealand Institute," 2nd ed., Vol. i, pp. 182-84), but first put forth so early as 1865, and ending with the provisional results of my present investigation.

Most of the statements made, up to the present, regarding what sheep eat only say that such-and-such species are eaten, but nothing is definitely said as to relative palatability. This latter is the crux of the whole question. From what 1 have. observed sheep do not take their food, haphazard ; they distinctly select—their feeding, indeed, may be called "selective.” The term palatability ” as here used is not primarily concerned with what species are eaten, but with what' species are preferred before all others when the sheep have a choice. For instance, certain plants may be eaten by starving sheep which under ordinary circumstances are not touched ; other plants, again, are only eaten if more palatable species are absent. Several interesting examples of this latter class. are dealt with farther on. Each species appears, indeed; to. have its special measure of ' palatability, so it should ultimately be possible, as explained in my last article (p. 6), to assign to each species a number denoting its palatability. This plan is tentatively adopted in the appendix to this article, the number 5 denoting the maximum of palatability, while the number 0 means that a species is not eaten under any circumstances. The remaining numbers, 4 to 1, show, , of course, different degrees of declining palatability. It must be pointed out that, these palatability numbers are- merely my .interpretation of the various authors' statements. Another matter which leads to confusion is 'that, in estimating palatability, frequently no distinction is made between grazing by stock as a whole and grazing by the different kinds of stock. Nor has any notice been. taken of the different races of species: e.g., red tussock and snow-grass —two very different plants from the standpoint of palatabilityhave been treated as one species under the name of Danthonia Raoulii.

This matter of palatability has little-to do with the relative foodvalues of the plants, except .that it is probably true that one kind of natural food specially liked by an animal may be quite equal as a food, or even better, than another more unpalatable kind which, on chemical analysis, shows more nutritive qualities.

The palatability of a species must vary considerably according to the season of the year, the general climate of the locality, the climate for the time being, the nature of the soil, and so on in fact, it must be greatly influenced by its environment. So, too, must different

races of the same botanical'species differ considerably in their relative palatability. Bearing the foregoing in mind, it is obvious' that an accurate knowledge of the palatability of species is by no means the easy matter to acquire which might be expected. Accurate field observations in many parts of the tussock - grassland ■ are essential, together with carefully conducted experiments. To ascertain that certain plants have been eaten, ■ though useful and suggestive, is not at all conclusive that such eating is due to sheep. The final decision must come from actually seeing a sheep feeding on a particular plant, •and proving from an examination of the plant itself that a portion has just been bitten off. This is no easy matter. In the majority of cases, even where a sheep has been grazing steadily for some time, it is difficult to find the exact spot, where the sheep has been, and equally if not more difficult to .find the plant or plants which have been nibbled. ' The difficulty of these observations is partly due to the timidity of the sheep and partly to the uneven nature . of the ground —often extremely steep—which has. to be traversed without taking one’s eye from the spot where the sheep was observed feeding. As for judging from the plants themselves', the matter is greatly complicated when rabbits are present. In the case of tussocks these latter animals eat them down very closely and evenly to a few inches above the ground, so that the plant looks like an inverted scrubbing-brush, and such is almost always a reliable indication of the work of rabbits. Even where rabbits are wanting, and apparently sheep alone are present, horses may have been feeding. In short, the only truly trustworthy records are those made from plants actually eaten in the presence of the observer.

PALATABILITY EXPERIMENT ON CONICAL HILL, NEAR HANMER SPRINGS.

With thp object of gaining a little, first-hand, knowledge of palatability so far as sheep are concerned I carried out in January last an experimentintended to be one of a —near Hanmer Springs. Thanks to the assistance of Mr. C. E. Christensen (Tourist Agent, Hanmer), an able botanist keenly interested in the economic aspects of the science, I was enabled to use the Conical Hill Reserve for the experiment. This reserve is a portion of a little hill rising from near the base of Mount Isabelle. Its summit is about 570 ft. above the adjacent plain, and consequently about . 1,770 ft. above sea-level. The reserve, 25 acres in area, is closely covered with a dense vegetation consisting principally of grasses, though many other herbs and a few shrubs are present. At the lower part of the reserve the European grasses cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata) and sweet vernal (Antlwx anthum odoratum) form the largest part of the vegetation, but the upper portion, which includes the greater part of the reserve, Consists of tussock-grassland similar in character to that which clothes the adjacent mountains up to a height of about 3,000 ft. The total number of the species of the Conical Hill grassland is about a hundred. The grasses are the most important members ' of the ■ pasture from the standpoint of this experiment. The following is a list of those present, species not indigenous being marked with an asterisk :—

Danthonia semiannularis var. (tufted danthonia) ; Danthonia semiannularis var. setifolia (alpine danthonia) ; Deyeuxia avenoides; Dichelachne crinita (plume-grass); ' Festuca.. novae-zelandiae ■ (fescuetussock) ; Hierochloe redolens ; (holy-grass) ; Holcus 'lanatus* (Yorkshire fog).;. Poa cdespite)sa (poa-tussock) —the “ silver tussock ” of my .first article., (p. 4), but as. this, name is used indiscriminately for both this species and the fescue-tussock I am giving this new. vernacular.name ; P.dd\.Colensoi (blue-tussock); Poa' intermedia (tall blue-tussock) ; Poa pratensis* (meadow-grass). The greater part of the remaining species—mostly rather lowly, herbs, but . a few shrubs —are hardly likely to come into the category, of palatable plants, but Crepis capillaris (hawksbeard), Hypochaeris . radicata (catsear), Trifolium . dubium (suckling - clover), Trifolium repens (white clover), and Carmichaelid subulata (New Zealand broom) are notable exceptions. '

The slope, of the hillside is for the most part steep. Towards the bottom of the reserve a good many trees have been planted, especially species ' of pines ; there are also alders and cypresses. These trees afford a good deal of shade, but elsewhere the grassland is exposed to the-full- sunshine for a considerable part of the year. The reserve is surrounded by a ■ rabbit-proof fence. However, during' the heavy snowfall of June, 1918, the fence was broken down in several places by the weight of the snow, so that a few rabbits gained access and remained within the reserve after the fence was put in order a week or two before the experiment commenced. ■

From what has gone before it can be seen that the plant-covering of Conical Hill and the area itself were well fitted for the experiment in relative palatability. There was abundant feed there were two distinct types of grassland—one where introduced grasses dominated, and .the other' fairly typical ..tussock-grassland ; the. plant-covering consisted of many species ; plants of different species grew side by side ; the area was small enough to be rapidly examined, especially as a zigzag path extended from the base of the hill to the little kiosk on its summit (see photo) ; finally, the situation close to Hanmer Springs makes it easy to visit the hill at sunrisean excellent time for observing sheep feeding.

: At . 12 noon on Tuesday, 21st January, 281 rams were put .into the reserve by way of the little gate , at its base. These rams were partly Merino., and partly Lincoln crossed by Merino. They were lent , for the experiment by Mr. F. J. Savill, of St. Helens, Hanmer, who took the greatest interest in the experiment. ' Both he and. his manager, Mr. D. Manson, gave me every assistance not only. in. this experiment, but in many other ways furthered my grassland investigations. I. take this opportunity, of thanking them most sincerely. .

■< There is no need to go into precise details of how the sheep behaved day by day, but rather is a summary of the results demanded. For some hours at first the -sheep remained in the cocksfoot area near- the entrance to the reserve, but long - before this grass was eaten to the ground the majority of the sheep had straggled on to the tussock area, and there they remained until noon on Saturday, 25th January, when, as the weather had been hot and as there is no water on the reserve, it was thought prudent to take them to the nearest creek (Dog Creek, about a mile away) to drink. Most of the. sheep on being returned

to the reserve quickly left, the cocksfoot —then mostly eaten close —and went again on to the tussock. On Thursday morning, 30th January, I visited the reserve for the last time.

Following are the principal points brought out by this nine-days grazing experiment. In considering these results it must be borne in mind that they only tell what happened on the particular area at the particular time, and that the data thus' gained is insufficient for generalization. Nevertheless the' results are of considerable interest; some are unexpected, and all are of value with regard to. future investigations of .relative palatability.

Results of the Experiment

1. In the presence of nearly all the palatable constituents of the pasture cocksfoot is eaten first of ah.

: 2. But if meadow-grass (Poa ■pratensis') is present the cocksfoot is not touched until- the meadow-grass is cropped close (see photo),, after which the cocksfoot is eaten freely. 3. Willow (Salix fragilis) is greatly liked. 4. Holy-grass (Hierochloe redolens) is probably nearly, if not quite,, as palatable as cocksfoot. ... '

5. The ripening seed-heads of blue-tussock (Poa Colensoi) and fescue-tussock (Festuca novae-zelandiae) are eaten to some small extent in the presence of species eaten more freely.

6. In the general tussock-grassland, catsear (Hypochaeris radicata), hawksbeard (Crepis capillaris), and Yorkshire fog (Holcus lanatus) are eaten freely before any other of the grasses or herbs are touched.

7. Next in palatability to the plants mentioned in No. 6 is probably tufted danthonia (Danthonia semiannularis var.).

8. Blue-tussock (Poa Colensoi) and tall blue-tussock (Poa intermedia) are-eaten more freely than the two larger tussocks.

9. Sorrel (Rumex Acetosella) growing luxuriantly is apparently of high palatability.

10. When the more palatable plants are eaten to the ground the two large tussocks, poa-tussock ' (Poa caespitosa). and fescue-tussock (Festuca novae-zelandiae) are sparingly eaten, and are apparently about equal in palatability. \ .

■ 11. All the tussock-grasses seem to be more palatable after rain or heavy dew. ■ - • 12. Broom (Cytisus scoparius) is eaten early. 13. Sweetbrier (Rosa rubiginosa) is eaten to some extent. 14. Alder (Alnus glutinosa) appears to be eaten early. 15. Scotch thistle (Carduus lanceolatus) is eaten to some slight extent. 16. Deyeuxia avenoides is occasionally eaten. 17. Swamp-lily (Maori onion) (Chrysobactron Hookeri) was eaten in one or two cases, but probably this was the' work of rabbits. <

: 18. After nine days continuous - grazing by sheep in the proportion of about twelve sheep to the acre (i.e., making allowance for rocks, paths, &c.) the following supposedly extremely palatable species were not touched : (a) White clover (Trifolium repens'), (b) suckling-clover (Trifolium dubium), and (c) blue-grass (Agropyron scabrum). With regard to white clover, it may be pointed out that Mr. J. E. P. Cameron, of Ben Ohau Station, and myself observed some extremely hungry sheep feeding* which had just been turned into the station orchard where was a close' growth of rye-grass and white clover. In no instance did we see them eating the clover, but they pushed it aside in order to get at the rye-grass, which they ate greedily. As for the blue-grass of Conical Hill, it was not merely growing in the • tussocksits usual habitat —but there were occasional tufts on the ground between the tussocks along with Yorkshire fog, catsear, &c. The suckling-clover for the most part consisted of insignificant plants, nevertheless it was common, as evidenced by the fact that it occurred in fifteen out of forty-three pieces of tussock-grassland each 1 square foot in area and taken at a ‘distance of about 10 ft. apart.

19. The following list is a rough approximation of the order in which the various species were eaten : (1) Meadow-grass, (2) cocksfoot, (3) holy-grass, (4) willow, (5) catsear, (6) Yorkshire fog, (7) seed-heads of blue-tussock and fescue-tussock (but only here and there), (8) hawksbeard, (9) luxuriant sorrel, (10) broom, (11) alder, (12) tufted danthonia, (13) blue - tussock and tall blue - tussock, (14) sweetbrier, (15) fescuetussock and poa-tussock, (16) Scotch thistle, (17) Deyeuxia avenoides, (18) sweet vernal (but hardly 'at all). ;

20. Excepting the New Zealand broom, which is eaten freely, the remainder of the 100 species were either not eaten at all, or they may have been eaten by rabbits and not by sheep. It must not be forgotten that these quite unpalatable species form a large percentage of the vegetation. '

OTHER OBSERVATIONS REGARDING SPECIES EATEN.

The observations which follow refer to what plants are eaten rather than to their palatability. They are the result of observations made on each occasion that I was in the field. They are classified according to localities.

i. Paddocks near shearing-shed, St. Helens (Hanmer Plains). —The sheep observed feeding had just been turned out of the shed. The following were the plants eaten : Fiorin (Agrostis alba*), side by side with Yorkshire fog and white clover, both not eaten ; Yorkshire fog, eaten freely and in presence of uneaten white clover ; smooth-leaved mullein (V erbascum blattaria), eaten abundantly— on stony riverbed ; rib-grass (Plantago lanceolata), when growing on stony river-bed — i.e., where no competitors ; ox-eye daisy (Chrysanthemum leucanthemum); white clover, rarely ; green poa-tussock, to some small extent blue-tussock, apparently eaten freely when not in company with specially palatable species ; sweet vernal, eaten to some slight degree ; Chewings fescue (F'estuca' rubra var.), eaten occasionally; sorrel (eaten freely when side by side with white clover), uneaten ; Elaeocharis acuta and cutty grass (Carex ternaria), in wet ground ; cocksfoot ; catsear.

2. River Clarence Valley, between track over Jack’s Pass and road over Jollie’s Pass (altitude about 2,500ft.). —The following were eaten: Cocksfoot in presence of white clover, uneaten ; poa tussock and fescuetussock (green leaves after burning), both species eaten freely and perhaps as early as the cocksfoot; fiorin, eaten to the ground ; the pale rush (Juncus pallidus), eaten freely; Elaeocharis gracillima, eaten freely; tufted danthonia, just being eaten; snow-grass (Danthonia flavescens), the young leaves after burning, this being at a higher altitude than the valley-floor. About four thousand shorn ewes and lambs had been put into this area (No. 2) a few days before the examination of the pasture was made.

3. Pasture’of old moraine near Lake Pukaki (altitude 1,600 ft. and upwards).—Here there are many rabbits, so the following list of species eaten may not be altogether reliable: Fescue-tussock which had been burnt, apparently eaten freely; Otago triodia (Triodia Thomsoni) ; Carex breviculmis ; Carex Muelleri, to a slight extent; tall bluetussock ; sorrel, apparently greatly eaten; barley-grass (Hordeum murinum) ; thick-stemmed broom (Carmichaelia Petriei).

4. Central Otago (including the upper Clutha Valley, the dry area near Lake Wanaka, the Lindis Gorge and the sheep-runs near the entrance to the gorge, the Dunstan Mountains, the Maniototo Plain, and. the Mount Ida Range).—Here, again it is extremely difficult to

distinguish between plants eaten by rabbits and those eaten by sheep. The following is a list of the species apparently eaten by sheep : Winged thistle (Carduus -pycnoc&phalus), observed sheep eating young plants in the Dunstan Gorge, while* on the other hand, on the depleted area of Galloway there were abundance of young plants, but except where one plant grew at the entrance to a rabbit-burrow I did not see one plant eaten even by rabbits ; Otago triodia, apparently eaten freely ; fescue-tussock ; sorrel, apparently eaten freely ; . meadow-grass ; barleygrass ; smooth-leaved mullein (Verbascum blattaria) ; rye-grass (Lolium perennd) ; Scotch thistle, a little ; Californian thistle (Carduus arvensis), perhaps eaten, but I am not at all sure ; blue-tussock ; tall blue-tussock.

These observations regarding the plants eaten where sheep are grazing freely are notes merely, and they are too fragmentary to allow any conclusions to be drawn.

APPENDIX

TABLE SHOWING THE OPINIONS OF VARIOUS BOTANISTS REGARDING THE PALATABILITY OF . THE INDIGENOUS GRASSES OF THE MONTANE AND SUBALPINE PASTURES.

The numbers 3, 4, 3, 2, 1, and o used below denote the relative palatability of the species, the number 5 denoting the highest palatability possible and the number 1 the lowest, whereas o denotes that, the species is never eaten. The remaining numbers, 4, 3, and 2, 'denote a gradually decreasing degree of palatability. Buchanan's observations appear in two columns, the first showing his opinion in 1869 and the second his opinion in 1880.

TESTING OF SOILS: NOTICE TO FARMERS.

In view of the great importance of lime on New Zealand soils, the present shortage of phosphates, and the fact that the use of phosphates may be economized by the application of lime, it has been decided to examine any soils which are properly collected by a Fields officer of the Department, for the purpose of determining the amount of lime which such soils actually require.

For this purpose it is desirable that groups of farmers, such as those forming the local branches of the Farmers’ Union, or other farmers’ organizations, should approach any one of the following Fields officers, and get him to appoint a date for visiting their district and for collecting typical soils for testing : Mr. R. Rowan, Fields Instructor, Auckland ; Mr. J. W. Deem, Fields Instructor, Wanganui; the Fields Instructor, Hawke’s Bay (position vacant) ; Mr. A. Macpherson, Fields Instructor, Christchurch; Mr. J. W. McCulloch, Fields Instructor, Invercargill ; Mr. C. S. Dalgliesh, Fields Instructor, Hokitika. Farmers will note that — . - (i.) It is essential that the samples should be collected by an officer who has been specially instructed in the correct methods of soilsampling, in order that the results of the test may be dependable. (2.) The testing of these samples, in order that it may be expeditiously performed, must be limited to the question of what amounts of lime are required per acre. . . ; . .... . „•

Agropyron scab-rum (blue-grass) ; Agrostis alba* (florin) ; Anthoxanthum odor alum* (sweet vernal) ; Dactylis glome? ata* (cocksfoot) ;

* This was on 21st February last.

* No estimate of this apparently most valuable grass is given for the Conical Hill experiment, as the only plants there grew in a position not readily accessible to the sheep.

Name of Species. Buchanan. C. Armstrong. T. J. Petrie. Cheeseman. Cockayne. Remarks. Microlaena Colensoi A rock-plant. ■ Thomson! A small bog-plant. Hierochloe reddens (holy4 3 2 2 2 5 grass) 4 3 2 2 2 5 Fraser! {alpine, holy2 2 4 3 2 Possibly equal as feed to ' grass) ■ H. redolens. Echino gon ovatus 2 A3 2 I 4 o o 3 2 o Possibly equal as feed to H. redolens. Agrostis antarctica muscosa .. Small cushion-plant. _ ■ subulata Dyeri ... 2 3 4 4 4 2 Petriei . . —• — tenella . . Deyeuxia filiformis 3 3 4 3 3 .2 pilosa . . .. 3 3 3 4 4 4 3 3 3 2 setifolia . . • avenoides 4 4 4 3 3 ■ I — Youngii . . 4 4? 3 —-— quadriseta 4 4 4 4 4 4 4? 1. 3 3 3 i 3 I Petriei . . D i c h e 1 a c-h n e crinita 4 3 4 1 4 2 I This may be a good grass. (plume-grass) 4 3 4 i 4 2 I This may be a good grass. It usually" grows in the fescue or poa tussocks. so sheep cannot get at it.

Name of Species. 3 Buchanan. J. C. and J. B. a ;Armstrong. T. Kirk. J. B. Armstrong. Patrie. Cheeseman. Cockayne. Remarks. j. Q J. C. and J. B. Armstrong. S’' H J. B. Armstrong. JD (V Cheeseman. Cockayne. Remarks. Deschampsia caespitosa 3 I o 10 pusilia .. Very rare alpine species. 3 i.' o 1 0 - pusilia ,. Very rare alpine species. ‘ —— novae-zelandiae .. .— — antarctica = tenella . . ■ Trisetum antarcticum . . 4 3 4' 4 4 2 Usually .in no great quantity. t— Youngii . . 4? 4 A.rather rare grass and • so of little moment. subspicatum . . . 4 2 4 Usually a rock-plant. Cheesemanii 4 4? 2 4 4 tity. A rather rare grass and so of little moment. Usually a rock-plant. Only recorded from one or ■ .. two places ; probably always a rock-plant. Danthonia Cunninghamii 3 ■ 2 ■ I ■ —Raoulia, var. rubra 3 I 2 I . (red-tussock) flavescens (snow3 I 2 2 Has a great reputation grass) ■ . amongst shepherds as a stand-by in winter. —- — crassiuscula ' • . . 3 3 3 2 I I I 2 2 1 2 two places ; probably always a rock-plant. Has a great reputation amongst shepherds as a stand-by in winter. australis (carpet- Or perhaps not eaten at australis (carpetI I grass) all. . oreophila I I Or perhaps not eaten at all. A rare and local grass.. —. — pilosa (danthonia) 4 4 4 There are many varieties of this grass. semiannul aris 4 4 3 ■ 4 3 of this grass. There are many varieties (tufted danthonia) of this grass. ■ Buchanani (Otago 4 .3 Doubtful. A grass of danthonia) limited and local dis- • • tribution. Triodia Thomson! (Otago 2 5 3 Am important grass . in triodia) Central Otago and the Mackenzie country. ■ —• — exigua (mountain- •• •• i o Forms a close,, very short twitch) ■ turf. ■ pumila . . 3 australis. . 2 3 4 5 i 3 3 3 o of this grass. Doubtful. A grass of limited and local distribution. An important grass in Central Otago and the Mackenzie country. Forms a close, very short turf. A grass of limited distributton. Arundo conspicua (toetoe) i 3 i —— fulvida . . 3 I Koeleria novo-zelandica i 4 3 3 i 4 3 3 I I I bution. . Usually in no quantity.. Poa novae-zelandiae 3 4 Usually a plant of wet rocks. —— an ceps .. ... i 4 This may be a fair grass. —— pusilia . . 3 i 4 4 Usually a plant of wet rocks. This may be a fair grass. dipsacea Generally a. rock-plant. dipsacea Generally a rock-plant. —■ — Cheesemanii . . Only recorded from one locality. - _ caespitosa . . 3 4 I ■2 I locality. But the leaves after Cockayniana burning, 4. . Colensoi (blue-tus- Perhaps my estimate too Colensoi (blue-tus- 2 2 5 5- 3 3 4 4 3 3 Perhaps my estimate too ■ sock) high. intermedia (tall blue4 3 3 high. tussock) .' acicularifolia Only recorded from one acicularifolia . . o or two localities. pygmaea . . 0 Only recorded from one or two localities. ■. . A minute, very rare A minute, very - rare • 1 alpine plant. alpine plant.

Name of Species. Buchanan. J. Armstrong. Kirk.' T. J. B. Armstrong. Petrie. Cheeseman. Cockayne. Remarks. Pda Kirkii . . : — Lindsayi ... : — exigua . . . . • maniototo . . .2 2 4 3 3 I At best could only give a • small amount of feed. A -small, rare alpine plant. A very small ■ grass of limited distribution except in Central Otago. sclerophylla 0 limited distribution except in Central Otago. imbe cilia 4 4 3 Festuca novae-zelandiae But 4 after burning. . 2 4 4 4 I But 4 after burning. fescue-tussock) - species . . This may be a palatable grass. It usually grows amongst tussock where sheep cannot reach it. Agropyron scabrum fluegrass) 2 - 3 4 5 I — aristata . . 4 —— Youngii. . A large form of AgroA large form of Agropyron scabrum. — sclerophylla. . . . —: —■ imbe cilia Festuca novae-zelandiae (jescuertussock) - species . . Agropyron scabrum {bluegrass) ■ —~r-■ aristata . . . . . ——■ Youngii. . Asperella gracilis , -2 2 0 4 2 - , 4 4 3 4 4 4 3 4 5 I I pyron scabrum.