PROCEEDINGS OF SECTION F. 591 
blows. Some South American species did well, as also the 
Californian bunch-grass, E/ymus condensatus. But it must be 
borne in mind that all these grasses were tested in the coastal 
districts, and it is a question whether they would have grown at 
all if they had been sown or planted on the arid western plains 
of Australia, All these experiments were carried out on a black 
loamy soil, but I saw other experiments carried out on different 
soils. Still, the results were much the same, with the exception, 
of course, of pure sand, which appears less favourable to their 
growth than any other; but even this has species peculiar to 
itself. I mention this fact, for much prominence has been given 
by some persons to the relative values of the different geological 
formations as being necessary to the growth of particular pasture- 
plants, but this has really an unimportant bearing upon the sub- 
ject, and is more likely to lead to confusion than otherwise. Of 
course, where soils are naturally very light, or very heavy, very 
dry, or excessively wet, it is then necessary to make a selection 
of the most suitable species for such situations. But to advise 
fifty different geological formations for the same number of 
pasture-plants is mere pedantry. 
Grasses and other fodder-plants have been recommended by 
persons who had formed their judgments of their merits upon 
imperfect trials, or upon every-day evidence. This has caused 
much disappointment, and discouraged many persons from further 
endeavours at improvement of their pastures. To this, also, we 
may attribute the general indifference towards obtaining a know- 
ledge of the comparative merits of grasses and other fodder- 
plants. There is one good thing, however, those persons have 
done for the country who have recommended exotic grasses, for 
they have always given directions for the soil to be broken up 
and brought to a fine tilth before the sowing takes place. But 
what a contrast this is to the continual struggle for existence our 
native grasses have to undergo, for the paddocks are often as hard 
as the roads throughout the country. In these circumstances it 
can hardly be wondered at that many of them present a wiry 
appearance, and if it were not for the sharp points on many of 
our native grass-seeds some of them would have been extinct long 
ago. These sharp-pointed seeds burrow into the soil, and when 
rain falls to soften it they germinate and grow, where it would be 
practically impossible for exotic ones to live. 
There is no doubt that the pastures in the coastal districts can 
be improved by introducing some exotics, especially those that 
make their growth during winter and early spring, for as a general 
rule most of our grasses make their growth during the summer 
season. Amongst the exceptions are—<Agvropyron scabrum, 
Andropogon affinis, Bromus arenarius, Ertochloa annulata, Erto- 
chloa punctata, Echinopogon ovatus, Danthonia semt-annularts, 
Deyeuxta forstert, Dichelachne crinita, Dichelachne sciurea, Festuca 
