PROCEEDINGS OF SECTION F. 593 
lappacea). This grass produced ears nearly six inches in length, 
and were well filled with a clean-lodking firm grain, which 
separated easily from the chaff, somewhat like wheat. During 
my long observations I never have seen any species of parasitic 
fungi attack either the straw or grain of this grass, nor from 
enquiries have I ever heard that this grass is affected with fun- 
goid growth. Most grain-producing plants are of annual growth, 
but this species is perennial, and attains a height of from three 
to four feet. It has a stout, clean straw, which would, after the 
grain was threshed out, make good fodder. Other species that 
might be cultivated for grain are—Leersia hexandra (the native 
rice grass), Panicum decompositum, P. flavidum, P. semialatum, 
P. trachyrachis, Setaria glauca, and S. macrostachya. 
The following species are the most suitable for growing on 
wet or undrained lands :—Arthraxon ciliara, Diplachne fusca, 
LElionurus citreus, Glyceria fluitans, G. fordeana, G. ramigera, 
Hemarthria compressa, Imperata arundinacea, Lsachne australis, 
Ischemum australe, Leersia hexandra, Leptochloa chinensis, L. 
subdigttata, Panicum indicum, P. melananthum, P. prolutum, 
Paspalum adistichum, P. scrobiculatum, Pennisetum compressum, 
Phragmites communis, Pollinia fulva, Sporobolus diander, S. 
virginicus, and S. indicus. The last is an exceedingly tough grass, 
which I have often recommended for paper-making. In strength 
it is equal to the esparto grass of Spain (Stipa tenacissima), when 
cultivated in Australia. 
Grasses suitable for growing on dry, stony ridges, or on poor 
soils, are Amphipogon strictus, Arundinella nepalensis, Cenchrus 
australis, Echinopogon ovatus, Eragrostis chetophylla, E. ertopoda, 
E.. falcata, E. lanifiora, E. Jacunaria, Festuca bromoides, and 
NNeurachne mitchelliana. 
Grasses that will grow on the littoral sandy wastes of this 
continent are of especial value, not only as fodder-plants, but 
they assist in binding, and thus prevent the loose sand from 
being blown inland by the fury of sea winds. The following 
species are amongst the best for this purpose :—Dzvstichlis 
maritima, Imperata arundinacea, Lepturus incurvatus. L. repens, 
L. cylindricus, Paspalum distichum, Schedonorus littoralis, Spintfex 
hirsutus, Sporobolus virginicus, Thuarea sarmentosa, and Zoysia 
pungens. 
It has been often remarked that many of our native grasses, 
while young, are really good pasture-plants, but at the season of 
ripening their seeds are irritating and dangerous to the eyes of 
sheep, often causing blindness, and this is no doubt correct. But, 
in a great measure, this could be guarded against, if pastoralists 
were “to confine their sheep to small areas until the seeds had 
fallen to the ground, which, under ordinary circumstances, would 
not be longer. than tee seeks when most of the danger would 
be past. Once the seeds, with their adherent awns, are shed, 
*L 
