GRASSES 23 



appeared. From its great yield it should be suitable to grow 

 for ensilage. Its cultivation can be recommended on good 

 land in districts suitable for grazing cattle. When left 

 unmolested for a time it freely produces seed which usually 

 ripens in summer and autumn. 



Coast Blue Grass (Andropogon affinis) occurs both in the 

 eastern and western portions of the continent, but principally 

 in the coast areas and colder districts. It generally attains 

 a height of from one foot to two feet, according to the class of 

 land it is growing on, the latter on moderately strong, rich 

 loams. It is a valuable pasture grass, and in sheltered situa- 

 tions makes considerable growth during the winter months; 

 therefore it is most useful to the grazier. Throughout an 

 ordinary season it yields a fair amount of rich, leafy, bottom 

 herbage of which all herbivora are fond and on which they 

 fatten, sheep particularly so. This "Blue Grass" makes 

 capital hay if cut when the flower stems first make their 

 appearance. It will stand close feeding, and continue to grow 

 during a long period of dry weather. I have seen this grass 

 growing on lawns, and notwithstanding that they were 

 constantly mown, it was almost irrepressible during the summer 

 and autumn. It is one of the first grasses to start into growth 

 after rain supervening on a long period of dry weather. When 

 left unmolested for a time it freely produces seed which mostly 

 ripens during the summer and autumn. 



Cockatoo Grass (Panicum semialatum] is an erect growing 

 plant, attaining a height of from two to three feet or more, 

 and generally found on good soils both in the coast and the 

 inland districts in the eastern portion of the continent, but 

 nowhere very abundantly. This grass withstands much dry 

 weather without its growth being seriously checked, and during 

 the warmer months produces a bulk of leafy feed of which 

 stock are fond, and on which they do well. It is an excellent 



