PROCEEDINGS OF SECTION F. 589 
species of Andropogons, Chloris, Eragrostis, Panicums, &c. The 
number of grains vary somewhat one way or the other (for no 
other seeds in the vegetable kingdom vary more, either in weight 
or number) according to the good or bad season they were 
harvested in. An acre well clothed with grass would contain 
from fifteen to twenty millions of plants, though, in some excep- 
tional cases, as many as forty millions of plants have been recorded 
to the acre. When such appalling facts as these are brought to 
mind they cannot be trifled with, and it is no wonder that 
thinking persons are apprehensive as to the future condition of 
our pastures unless some radical change takes place. 
Many persons have thought that by introducing exotic fodder- 
plants and grasses they would, in a great measure, supersede and 
be an improvement upon the indigenous ones. But it has often 
struck me as being a most remarkable thing that those persons 
who have written up the supposed virtues of exotics have 
given no guarantee that our high-class wool would be maintained 
under this new diet. Climate, no doubt, has a great deal to do 
with the production of high-class wool. Still, I cannot close my 
eyes to the fact that the indigenous vegetation is the principal 
factor. Keeping these circumstances in view, it is much better 
to systematically conserve, and even cultivate, our native fodder 
plants than introduce others of which we have only a superficial 
knowledge. 
Many exotic species have been introduced as good fodder-plants 
which have proved a positive pest to the country. Everyone 
must be painfully reminded of this fact when they see that 
ubiquitous Cape composite, Cryptostemma calendulacea, which 
already covers large areas of pasture-land, and from year to year 
the area widens, to the gradual extinction of native herbs and 
grasses. Over two hundred species of worthless weeds have been 
introduced with seeds of exotic fodder plants, or in an accidental 
way along with other seeds. So great a pest to the country have 
some of these proved, that laws have been directed towards their 
extermination. The prickly comfrey (Symphytum asperrimum) 
was heralded throughout Australasia, a few years ago, as the 
fodder plant that was to supersede all others. What is the 
consequence, after years of careful nursing? It has proved to be 
a positive failure in the country, after all the money expended in 
introducing and cultivating it. A Canary Island shrub, called 
Tagasasta (Cytisus proliferus) is now occupying much attention in 
some quarters, which experience will eventually prove to have 
been misdirected. I have observed this shrub for a number of 
years, having raised from seed some of the first plants ever seen 
in Australia. I have a shrub now under my charge which is 
about fifteen feet high, but I can firmly assert that our old man 
salt-bush (Rhagodia parabolica) would at the same age have 
produced about twice the amount of a superior fodder, and would 
