205 
The results of overstocking hitherto referred to have been 
mainly due to sheep. Cattle, although very destructive to some 
of the shrubby trees, such as Emu-bush or Bitter-bush ( Hefero- 
dendron oleaefolia), Quondong (Santalum persicarium), Mulga 
(Acacia aneura), of all of which they are extremely fond, breaking 
down the branches to reach the young growth, are otherwise not 
nearly so destructive as sheep ; and where not grazed in excessive 
numbers, the native grasses have greatly increased in quantity, 
but the infiuence of big cattle in consolidating the surface soil 
and making it more retentive affect the native vegetation rather 
beneficially, and the long paths made in crossing the country 
often develop into small watercourses, and the vegetation of the 
lower-lying ground of the drier part is thereby improved. 
It is not to be supposed that in pointing out the dire results of 
overstocking, especially with sheep, that moderate and judicious 
grazing has the same effect. Of course, the exigencies of bad 
seasons, with little or no rain, may compel overstocking ; but, if 
not persisted in, the injury done is not permanent, and a few wet 
years recuperate the pastures. 
In newly-stocked country, where the rainfall is light and pre- 
carious, the indigenous perennial grasses exist as tufts wide-apart ; 
hence, while the stock is few in numbers and not kept con- 
tinuously in the same spot, these perennial grasses greatly in- 
creased and covered the ground fairly well, but as the stock 
multiplies the perennial grasses and the shrubs became fewer, or 
died out, and their place is occupied by annual grasses and herbs. 
By preference the stock eat the sweetest and best, and the result 
of much overstocking for lengthy periods is that inferior grasses 
prevail, as evidenced by the poverty and poor condition of the 
animals, despite the abundance of feed. An intelligent system of 
grazing will allow the best grasses to reproduce themselves, and 
thus secure an increase of the yield of wool and lambs. 
Many of the innutritious grasses are importations, and one of 
the worst is an Indian grass (Hemarthria, sp.), which has spread 
very widely on the better soils, and is very abundant in the dis- 
tricts near to Sydney, where originally the kangaroo grass 
(Anthisterva ciliata) was common, Of native innutritious grasses 
species of Andropogon and Aristida furnish typical examples. 
Generally the results of settlement appear on the whole ex- 
tremely injurious to that portion of our vegetation which com- 
prises the best fodder-producing plants, and that the very exis- 
tence of the indigenous forests is threatened by the constantly- 
recurring conflagrations, and it may perhaps be permitted to 
suggest remedies of a practical nature to mitigate these deplor- 
able effects. In all natural forest-country very extensive forest- 
reserves ought to be set apart in such a manner as to be beyond 
