10 June, 1919.] Experiments in Control of St. John's Wort. 379 



The enonnoiis areas of remote mountainous country infested with 

 St. John's wort makes the use of chemicals impossible, as well as pro- 

 hibitive, owing to cost. 



The experiments now being- made with chemicals have already 

 demonstrated their 'efficacy for quickly ridding land of noxious weeds. 

 While, hoAvever, they are of undoubted value in settled country, or in 

 dealing with infested areas adjacent to occupied country, and particu- 

 larly where transport is good, their general use can never be looked for 

 in the steep broken country on both the Murray and Gippsland slopes 

 of the Australian Alps. And it is here that an organized crusade against 

 the rabbit would prove of great value, and go more towards solving the 

 problem of stopping the onward march of St. John's wort than any 

 other proposal likely to be put forward. Every fire that sweeps through 

 these mountains checks the weed temporarily, and at the same time, 

 encourages the grasses. Fire does not appear to injure the root system 

 of the wort at all, but it causes immense destruction of its seeds, as, 

 OAving to the woody flower stems and the resinous nature of the seed 

 capsules, they burn very fiercely. The seed is very late in shedding, so 

 that every bush fire destroys most of it, and the number of seeds shed 

 annually is enormous — I have counted 15,000 seeds, the product of 

 one plant. 



The high plains of the Australian Alps are important as a stand-by 

 for stock in years of drought, and this makes the freedom of the foothills 

 from noxious weeds of great importance. Trammelling cattle from the high 

 plains pass along these mountain roads, some of which are badly infested 

 with St. John's wort, and they must collect some of tlie seed in j^assing. 

 The introduction of so much of the weed into New South "Wales is prob- 

 ably due to stock returning from these infested areas. 



An inspection of the plots previously referred to suggests that there 

 is a good opportunity for carrying out research work, not only as a 

 means for solving a problem of such national importance as the eradica- 

 tion of St. John's wort,^ut also for the improvement of the stock- 

 carrying capacity- of the mountain country to something like the value 

 it had before the rabbit made its appearance. 



There are several grasses that are able to successfully crowd out 

 St. John's wort, providing the ground is not disturbed in any way, and 

 that protection is afforded from rabbits. 



The grasses that are doing such excellent work at Bright are Paspalum 

 dilatat'um, Setaria nigrirnstris, and kangaroo grass (Anthistiria imher- 

 his). There are others that deserve a trial, the most promising of which 

 are probably wallaby grass (Danthonia semi-annular is and pilosa), couch 

 grass (Cynodon dact), rye grass (Lo^ium), and, for the higher altitudes, 

 Phalaris commutata or P. canariensis (canary seed) would be worth a 

 trial. 



TREATMENT OF PREGNANT ANIMALS. 



Periods of pregnancy are unquestionably the most important time 

 in the life of a breeding animal, and the very best attention should be 

 given during such times, for the proper care of the mother animal 

 and the unborn young has a decided effect on the offspring after birth. 

 Cows are often subject to rather poor treatment, for, through ignorance 



