46 



Agricultural Gazette of JS.SJF. {Jan, 2, 1908, 



Rabbits and the Western Flora 



]:. w. I'lvAcocK, 



T}IK tldfii of the wotciMi iiastdi-al di^trifts of tiii^ State is oxt I'ciuely 

 iiitcn'sti I !<_;■, coiiiiirisiii^- as it docs many trees, slifiilis, and smaller ]ilaiits 

 of pt'culiar iiite-rest to the siraziri- ami liotaiiist. It lias lieeii cvoIvimI uiider 

 extl'eine eoiidit ions : oidy those foi-ms whieh could withstand severe 

 periodical drou^lits and (\ti'cmi'> of tem|iei'at iii'e. either as plants or 

 eml)rvos, have survived. 



Fig. 1.— Remains of Kurrajong Tree. 



The ])rimeval condition of the cdil)le flora, which comprises mjiny trees, 

 slirubs, herhs, and grasses, was viy different to what it is to-day. The 



stocking of this coiintrv l)v inan, lii'sli\- with eatile 



a. ml 



afterwards with 



sheep, has in many instances (far too manv) le(l to serious deterioration. 

 Stocking with cattle had far less effect in this respect tii;ni the overstocking 

 with sheep which has in many places lireii ]>ractised. Since the advent of 

 sheep, another important factor in this deterioration lias appeared, viz., 

 the rabbit. The rabl)it I)ears as great a relationship to the sheep in the 

 matter of deterioration as slieep Ix'ar to cattle. The effect of tlie rabbit is 

 extreme and astounding, l)iii]ging about a metamorphosis in the floi'a 

 upon a scale which seemed incredible, and testifies to the niarvellc)us 



