The Sun.
London, England, 1846-12-16 00:00:00

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CULTIVATION of TUSSAC GRASS.
At the last monthly meeting of the Highland and Agri-
cultural Society of Scotland; in La alfour
read a communication 'on Tussac Grass, sent to the
so-
ciety by Colonel Moody, the commanding ofEeer'orthe
Royal Engineers in Scotlard, and father of 'Captain
Moody,. Governor of the Falkland Islands, to wheise
exertions the public are indebted for the introduction of
that grass from which so much is expected. .Cclonel
Moody referred to the notice of the Tussac by Bougain-
ville, who was the first to discover its nutritious pro-
' parties, but who did not, se.,far as he is known, attempt
to introduce it into the agriculture of France. It was
afterwards described by Cook, under the name of sword
grass, and must have been known to Sir Joseph
Banks, who accompanied the circumnavigator. It was
again noticed by Captain Henry Foster, in the narra-
tive of his voyage to the Southern Ocean. in 1828, 1829,
and 1830, es the dactuks caspitosa, or Tussac Grass, as
it was afierw'aids designated by Dr. Hooker, who ac-
companied the expedition under, Sir. ,Tames Ross. Since
that period, Captain Moody has been unremitting in his
exertions to bring the subject under the notice of the
public, and has repeatedly sent home parcels of the seed
fer trial. Colonel Moody's communication mentioned
the success with which some cf that seed had been tried
in deep
wmoich
u a t
moss contiguous
that eer
to the sea, in the island of
cattle
re-
sult of h
Lewis,
and referred certain experiments,
iu
this
county the reate
aTuudsstaues
tw within
nutritive avidity, and
matterprefer
th
ei t
Tussacto native
is
sgurpaesrsiores ,
to the Fescue in the proportion of about six to four
Dr. Balfour mentioned that this grass was thriving well
in various situations, particularly in the Dublin Bo-
tanical Garden ; at Barochan Castle, in Renfrewshire ;
in Mr. Lawson's nursery grounds ; and in the Orkney
Islands. Mr. Traill, of Viera had the merit of intro-
ducing it into the last locality ; having failed in rais-
ing the plant from' seed, he procured some small
specimens from the nursery, which
_were planted in
the island of Rousay, in peaty soil, under the imme •
diate influence of the sea ; they tripled their size in
July and August, and their growth during that period
was equal to six months' progress in the nursery.
Dr. Neill said, that from 'his own experience, he could
confirm the fact mentioned by Mr. Moore, of the Gies-
nevin Botanic Garden, that where 'Tussac plants are
scarce, the) may readily be multiplied by dividing the
tufted roots. In the end of July last he directed his gar-
dener to divide two plants, being average specimens of a
number raised from seed sown in March, 1844. Each
plant afforded about fifteen offsets. The offsets of the'
one were . placed in good garden mould, and have suc-
ceeded well, promising to make fine tufts against next'
season. The offsets of.the other plants were dibbed into
the worst soil which the garden afforded, a coarse ferru-
ginous sand, and in this they have not flourished.
The Chairman said, that the thanks of the society,
and of the public at large, was due to Captain Moody, the
Governor of the Falkland Islands, for the efforts made by
him to introduce the Tussac grass into Great Britain,
and that it would be gratifying to him to learn that its
culture was now exciting so much interest in the agricul-
tural world.

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