586 PROCEEDINGS OF SECTION F. 
6.—FODDER PLANTS AND GRASSES OF AUSTRALIA. 
By Frep. Turner, F.R.H.S. London, Botanist to the 
Department of Agriculture, N.S.W. 
My object in reading before the ‘‘ Economic and Social Science 
Section” of the Australasian Association for the Advancement of 
Science an account of my experiments and observations on the 
fodder plants and grasses of Australia is that more interest may 
be taken in them by scientists, pastoralists, and agriculturists. 
“Grass,” says Professor Martyn, in his letters on the “ Elements 
of Botany,” “vulgarly forms one single idea, and the husbandman 
when looking over his enclosure does not dream there are upwards 
of three hundred species, of which thirty or forty may.be at 
present under his eye.” These remarks of Professor Martyn’s, 
made so many years ago, are substantially correct at the present. 
day. 
Distinguished agriculturists have often remarked that a know- 
ledge of the comparative merits and the value of the different 
species of grasses, and the best mode of cultivating them, is very 
much below other branches of agriculture. With regard to Aus- 
tralian grasses, these remarks are singularly appropriate, notwith- 
standing that they are the principal source from which Austra- 
lians derive their greatest wealth. However, a new era seems to 
have dawned upon Australia. By establishing departments of 
agriculture throughout the colonies, we may reasonably expect 
most valuable results to accrue therefrom, and if these are assisted 
by the patriotic exertions of private individuals, much of the 
prejudice at present existing with regard to the value of our 
native pasture-plants may be consigned to oblivion. By systematic 
experiments their yield could be ascertained, and by analysis 
their nutritive qualities proved. This would be an invaluable 
guide to pastoralists and agriculturists, who could see at a glance 
what species were most suitable to their requirements. 
The comparative merits of our native fodder-plants and grasses 
should form a part of the curriculum of the national education. 
If there were placed in all country State schools an enlarged 
drawing of each species that is peculiar to the district the school 
was situated in, with its botanical and common name, together 
with a short popular description and analysis, it might form a 
lasting impression upon the young mind, and would most probably 
lead to valuable results in after-years. It cannot be said we have 
no material to work upon, for there are upwards of three hundred 
and sixty species of grasses indigenous to this continent. All 
these, of course, are not valuable fodder, but they have their uses 
in the economy of nature, which I shall show in another part of 
this paper. Amongst other native fodder plants, the most 
