28 Agricultural Gazette of N.S.W. [Jan. 2, 1920. 



makes the Danthonias particularly valuable, is remarkably absent from 

 most of our native grasses. The Panics, the Eragrostis, Setaria and 

 Paspaluni (all previously described) are hot weather grasses, and in the 

 interior winter feed has generally to be provided by herbage such as burr, 

 ti'efoil, barley grass, &c. Such annual short-lived herbage should not be 

 allowed to crowd out the Danthonia grasses, which are a more valuable 

 heritage than the short-lived aliens. 



The Danthonias are tussocky in habit, but they stool considerably, and 

 will stand a great amount of grazing. Tlie leaves are soft and narrow in 

 character. Some of the Danthonias ai-e rather hairy in type, particularly 

 those of the western plains, but evideatl}'- this is no drawback as far as 

 palatability is concerned. During the hot summer months the gi-ass dies off 

 considerably, but can be revived in a wonderful manner by I'ain. 



Seeding Habits. — The Danthonia grasses set seed very readily and 

 abundantly from October to December. Unfortunately, the ripening of the 

 seed is irregular, and owinj; to its fluffj nature it is difficult to harvest and to 

 sow. The flowering glumes completely enclose the s^ed until it is ripe ; then 

 they burst open and the s>ed is distributed far and wide by the wind. The 

 tluffy, light nature of the seed has certainly a great deal to do with the wide 

 range of the grass. 



Palatability. — The value of the Danthonia grasses in this respect, both for 

 cattle and sheep, has been well proved hy every pastoralist. The forms that 

 grow abundantly in the coastal districts (Dan i/ionia lonjiJoUa and D. raceinom 

 types) fatten horses and dairy stock very quickly ; while on the tablelands 

 and slopes and in^he interior some of the best sheep in New South Walts- 

 are raised on Danthonia grasses alone. Even when other grasses are com- 

 pletel}^ dried up the Danthonias will produce a fair amount of greenness in the 

 bottom growth, and it is due to such feed that the Riverina can can-y 

 excellent sheep during a dry spring and summer. 



Dantho lias under Irrigation. — It has been noticed that Danthonia grasses 

 do particularly well under irrigation. At Yanco Experiment Farm an 

 irrigated pasture of this grass appears to pro^■ide more feed than any other 

 grass tried. In New Zealand the Danthonia grasses are recommended both 

 for very dry soils and for veiy wet soils, and they appear to adapt themselves 

 to both situations as far as this State is concern(;d. 



Commercial 'possibilities. — The Danthonia grasses must, in time, play an 

 important part in areas where paddocks are laid down to grass, pai'ticularly 

 in the more closely settled localities. The germination of the seed is very 

 satisfactory, averaging 60 per cent., and it appears a fairly easy grass to i-aise 

 from seed, if it is sown in eaily spring or in autumn. Its growth is rapid, 

 even under fairly dry conditions. Plots of Danthonia grasses have been 

 estaVjlished at the experiment farms without much difficulty. The seed of 

 the New Zealand varieties is already on the market, but experiments have 

 proved that our own varieties are far superior to these, and it therefore 

 .seems remarkable that we should have to introduce seed from New Zealand 

 when it grows so abundantly in our own State. 



