FORAGE PLANTS. 103 
It produces much seed, of which birds are very fond, and 
requires to be protected by nets, or otherwise, during the time of 
ripening. The smaller birds pick out the ripe seed, even when 
only a small quantity is formed among the blossoms. The 
common method of collecting and preparing it in Germany is as 
follows :—At sunrise the grass is gathered or beaten into a hair- 
sieve from the dewy grass, spread on a sheet, and dried fora 
fortnight in the sun; it is then gently beaten with a wooden pestle 
in a wooden trough or mortar, with straw laid between the seeds 
and the pestle, till the chaff comes off; they are then winnowed. 
After this they are again put into the trough or mortar in rows, 
with dried marigold flowers, apple, and hazel-leaves, and pounded 
till they appear bright ; they are then winnowed again, and being 
made perfectly clean by this last process, are fit for use. The 
marigold leaves are added to give the seed a finer colour. A 
bushel of seed with the chaff yields only about two quarts of clean 
seed. When boiled with milk and wine it forms an extremely 
palatable food, and is in general made use of whole, in the manner 
of sago, to which it is in most instanees preferred. (Hortus 
Gramineus Woburnensis). 
All the colonies except South Australia and Tasmania. 
126. Panicum semialatum, 7#.8r., (Syn. Urochloa semialata, 
Kunth; Corrdochloa semialata, Nees.) ; B.F1., vii., 472. 
This species produces a quantity of feed from thick nodes at 
the base ; it will stand drought well, and stock are fond of it. It 
is a tall, superior pasture grass, of easy dispersion in warm, humid 
localities. It is not endemic in Australia. 
New South Wales and Queensland. 
127. Panicum trachyrachis, Bex/h., B.FI., vii., 490. 
“Qo-kin” of the aborigines of the Mitchell River (North Queensland). 
A valuable open pasture grass, of quick growth, producing a 
great amount of feed during summer; is also a free seeder. The 
seeds are sometimes used as food by the natives. 
New South Wales, Queensland, and Northern Australia. 
