630 Journal of Agriculture, Victoria. [10 Oct., 1918. 



The greater portion of the body of a plant comes from the atmo- 

 sphere, and the supply is boundless. The mineral matter can only come 

 from the soil, and if one element be deficient there arises a constitutional 

 weakening that renders the plant liable to disease. Dr. E. B. Forbes 

 says, " No one who is interested in plants, or animals, or people can 

 afford not to know how these dead ashes of the earth become involved in 

 those wonderful processes which we know and experience as life." 



The health and vigour of grass depend upon complete nutrition. Soil 

 conditions most favorable for grass also embrace those most favorable 

 for that form of life which plays a very important part in the fixation of 

 nitrogen from the air. We may often notice how the nice sheeny grass 

 about a homestead bears close grazing, whilst a little further away the 

 pasture is lighter in colour, much longer, and neglected by the stock. 

 The concentration of plant food about the centre makes all the differ- 

 ence. Here it may be overstocked, yet the grass does not die out. A 

 farmer once told me that he had no faith in top-dressing, and explained 

 that he had top-dressed 20 acres, and there was less grass on that area 

 than elsewhere in the paddock. This was certainly so, but it was because 

 the cattle had grazed the top-dressed portion of the farm and neglected 

 the other part, notwithstanding its long, abundant grass. 



A worthy farmer should aim at obtaining the maximum returns, 

 while every year making his farm better than he found it. 



The exploiter of the soil has found by experience that his stock will 

 thrive better if he burns the old grass. The reason is that the fire 

 destroys various enemy pests, and the ashes give a supply of desirable 

 mineral elements, and the young, tender shoots are more digestible. 

 Firing the grass may be wise as a temporary expedient, but if carried 

 out too often it will bring in its own revenge. 



Life involves unceasing resistance or warfare against the invasion by 

 lower forms of life. Acidity of the soil favours the increase of fungi, 

 and prevents the growth and activity of the nitrifying bacteria. The 

 cells of the plant growing on the depleted, sour soil have a low resistance, 

 and the fungi are allowed to spread on the grass. On such areas troubles 

 of many kinds appear — paralysis, liver disorders, worms, and inflamma- 

 tory conditions. The immediate cause is some micro-organism or 

 parasite, but the underl;y'ing cause is bad management — the result of 

 permitting the animals " too much inferior grass." 



Milch cows will not thrive on these faulty native grasses. If a 

 liberal ration of some food high in essential minerals, such as lucerne, 

 linseed meal, bran, or crushed grains and a suitable mixture of salts be 

 added to the ration, they will do better, but still there is the danger of 

 paralysis being caused by action of the fungi which infest the grass. 

 Fencing off surface catchment waters and providing well or bore water 

 has made a marked improvement on many farms and on some runs. 



Research has been carried out in South Africa by Sir Arnold Theiler 

 with a view to ascertaining the cause of Lamziekte, which occurs among 

 stock on sour veldts. Results, so far as grass is concerned, discount the 

 importance of the " Shortage of Vitamine " theory. The experimenter 

 believes the cause to be the accumulation in the animal system of grass- 

 toxins. He aims at promoting oxidation, but his treatments so far, he 

 admits, are only experimental. It is, he says, a question rather for 

 the farmer than for the veterinarian. The food supply must be 



