89 
‘« Horses and cattleare fond of it, both in its dry and green condition. 
Probably no grass gives better promise for the dry arid lands of the west.” 
“Tn California it is known as Evergreen or Arabian Millet. It roots 
deep in the sub-soil, and where ahs is at all alkaline it grows 
enormously, but at the same time absorbs so much of the unpalatable 
alkali that stock will not eat it. It is excellent for dry hills, free from 
alkali.” 
It is common all over Northern India, in cultivated and uncultivated 
ground, and is considered to be a good fodder grass both for grazing 
and hay. 
The Department of Agriculture of Victoria distributed some of the 
seed of this grass to farmers in 1888, and following are extracts from 
the circular issued at the time :— Superior both as a grazing and hay 
erass ; has abundance of roots, which decay, thereby enriching the 
ground rather than exhausting it. The best results follow sowing the 
seed in August and September, enabling the seed to get a good. root 
by the autumn, and forming a better turf the following season. Sow 
broadcast at the rate of a bushel an acre, and cover with a hight brush, 
or sow just before a heavy rain. ‘Three good crops the following season 
will be the result if the season is favourable.” 
Baron von Mueller quotes J. L. Dow, of Victoria, as stating that it 
keeps green in the heat of summer; also, Mr. Hollingsworth, that it 
is not eaten out by pasture animals. ‘The Baron adds: “ It will also 
grow in drift sand of the coast, and will keep growing during the dry 
season, when most other grasses fail, but improves much on irrigation ; 
the roots resist some frost ; three tons can be cut from one acre in a 
single season ; it yields so ‘large a hay-crop that it may be cut half a 
dozen times in a season, provided the land be rich. All kinds of stock 
have a predilection for this grass.” 
Objections to this grass.—‘‘ The greatest objection to this grass is 
the difficulty of eradicating it. Care should be taken not to introduce 
it into fields intended for cultivation. It spreads rapidly, both by root 
and seed, and it is apt to enter fields where it is not wanted. The 
grass is not well adapted to pasture, and close pasturing is one of the 
means of getting rid of it. Its succulent subterranean stems are 
usually well liked by hogs after they have become accustomed to them, 
and by keeping hogs closely confined on it, it may be eradicated. There 
has been much discussion in the papers of the Southern United States 
as to this grass, some considering it a great blessing, others a curse, 
the fact being that it is a blessing where a permanent grass 1S desired, 
and a great pest in land intended for general cultivation.” (Vasey.) 
Duthie points out that various reports indicate its injurious effects 
on cattle if eaten when too young, or when the plants are stunted by 
drought. He adds that the same results have been observed to take 
place in the case of Sorghum vulgare. Dr. Stewart was told in Hazara, 
that cattle, after eating it, are often attacked by fatal head affections. 
In other districts it is said to be poisonous until the rains are over, 
when cattle eat it with impunity. (See ante, page 87.) 
A gentleman in the Inverell district wrote to the Department some 
time ago asking for directions how to eradicate it, and there is no 
