3 
which prevail in the region, and it is quite improbable that introduced forms 
can be had to take their places satisfactorily, at least for years to come. 
That some of the native forms flourish under conditions that would kill the 
common cultivated ones is seen by the situation in Stark County, North 
Dakota. At Dickinson, the Weather Bureau reports for 1895 show a rainfall 
of 11:75 inches. Of this amount, 5°75 inches fell in June and July. The 
small precipitation of 0°64 inch in the three months of August, September, 
and October favours the important process of curing on the ground. This 
enables thousands of cattle to live during the winter on the nutritious forage 
furnished by this method of curing the grasses which grow at this point.” 
(Brannon.) “Such a climatic condition would soon destroy the ordinary 
cultivated grasses, but the native species have flourished under it for 
-centuries, and there is no reason why they should not continue to do so and 
still yield plenty of forage, if properly handled.” (Grasses and Forage 
Plants, United States Department of Agriculture, Bulletin No. 6, pp. 6 and 
7.) 
The above might have been written with much of our western country 
in view, so similar are the conditions, at least as regards rainfall. 
And again: ‘‘ Experience has shown that many of the most valuable of 
the native grasses are very much benefited by a judicious application of 
even a small amount of water. Asa rule there is sufficient rainfall to give 
the grasses a good start in the spring, and if enough water could be had to 
keep up a strong growth when the dry, hot summer weather comes on, an 
abundant forage crop would be assured.” (Op. cit. p. 7.) 
It may be that the water from our artesian bores, and other water avail- 
able for irrigation, may be utilised to an even greater extent than it has 
been in the past, in directly irrigating pasture land for part of the year. 
Mr. Thomas A. Williams gives the following summary of his reeommen- 
dations for the renewing of worn-out pastures of native grasses :— 
“(z.) Avoid overstocking. 
(1r.) When the soil begins to get baked and packed stir it up with a 
harrow. 
(11r.) Give an occasional light top-dressing of well-rotted stable manure 
(1v.) Fill in thin with hardy tame or wild grasses before the weeds get 
a start. 
(v.) Keep the weeds mowed off so that the grasses may get the benefit 
of all the plant-food there is in the soil.” 
ANALYSES OF GRASSES. 
Very few analyses have been made of our indigenous grasses, but it is very 
desirable that a comprehensive investigation of them should be carried out. 
To do the work properly we require specimens of the same species collected 
in different parts of Australia, in different seasons, and in different ‘stages of 
growth. In order to secure strictly comparable results, it would be desirable 
to set apart one chemist whose attention should not be distracted with any 
other kind of work. He could do the work with reasonable thoroughness in 
three years, and his researches would settle the comparative value of many of 
our esteemed indigenous grasses, and also give us specific information in regard 
to the value of some grasses in respect to which we only possess vague infor- 
mation. If, in addition, we could only obtain analyses of introduced grasses 
grown in the colonies, the results would be of enhanced value. 
