■38 Journal of Agriculture. [10 Dec. 1908. 



Parasites.— K fairy ring fungus which forms brown irregular circles 

 in the grass, also grows on and destroys the bulbs, but they soon reappear 

 in the grass behind the rings, and the fungus does more harm to the 

 pasture than it does to Romulea. Loosening the soil, and the addition 

 of lime aid in keeping down the fungus. 



The plant is proclaimed for the whole State. 



TOOWOOMBA CANARY GRASS. 



The So-called " Phalaris commutata." 



Alfred J. Eivart, D.Sc, Ph.D., F.L.S., Government Botanist and Pro- 

 fessor of Botany at the Melbourne University. 



This fodder grass has recently been largely advertised as the king of 

 ail winter grasses. It is stated to have been lirst introduced into Aus- 

 tralia by jNIr. R. Harding, curator of the Botanic Gardens, Toowoomba, 

 Queensland, to whom credit is generally given for its introduction and 

 distribution. Mr. Charles Ross, manager of the State Farm, Westbrook, 

 Queensland, however, informs me that it was introduced into Toowoomba 

 over twenty years ago, when the late Mr. Way was curator of the Botanic 

 Gardens. The seed was received with about sixty other grasses from the 

 Agricultural Department of New York, U.S.A. All the varieties were lost 

 but this one, which existed in out of the way places, such as hedgerows and 

 rabbish-heaps. Mr. Harding drew Mr. Ross' attention to this grass four 

 or five years ago and gave him a root. Recognising its value he (Mr. 

 Ross) at once began to propagate and distribute it. Hence, as is often 

 the case, the credit of introducing and spreading this grass is not solely due 

 to one man but is to be apportioned amongst several. 



" Phalaris commutata,'' is a native of the foothills of the Alps, and 

 other parts of Italy. Mr. Webb, in the Sydney Daily Telegraph, 17th 

 June, 1908; stated that this Italian gra.ss was imported from America for 

 the Toowoomba Experimental Farm in 1884, with a lot of other grasses. 

 On account of great drought none did any good and they were thrown 

 away on a rubbish-heap. Some years afterwards a beautiful grass was 

 observed doing well where the roots had been thrown. This was "Phalaris 

 commutata. ' ' 



In the Agricultural Gazette of New South Wales, 1908, page 849, a 

 number of reports from the different agricultural stations are given in regard 

 to its utility for grazing and fodder purposes. The reports are very con- 

 flicting, but on the whole it is agreed that it grows well in winter, and up 

 to about December when it seeds. The stems are then rather hard, so that 

 if it is to be used for hay it must be cut early while fresh and green. 

 The flat, succulent leaf is readily eaten by stock, including sheep. Since 

 the plant is not only a perennial but also seeds freely, it should maintain 

 itself well, even under continued grazing. In any case, however, it has 

 still to be shown that it is superior to all or any of the fodder grasses 

 already known and in common use. For permanent pastures it is, for 

 instance, not certain whether it is any better than Phalaris minor, a well 

 and long known species of the same genus. 



For some time, the National Herbarium has been in doubt in regard 

 to the correctness of the name given to this plant. The Kew Index 

 makes Phalaris commutata, Roem. and Schult, a synonym to Phalaris coeru- 



