30 AUSTRALIAN GRASSES AND PASTURE PLANTS 



of latitude 32 degrees it is essentially a summer grass, for it 

 seldom makes much growth before October and November, 

 but continues developing a quantity of leafy herbage through- 

 out the hotter months. Soon after the flower stems have 

 developed the leaves turn slightly brown and then the nutritive 

 qualities of the Kangaroo Grass are considered at their highest. 

 All herbivora are fond of and do well on it, and horses and 

 bullocks when allowed to graze in pastures where this grass is 

 growing plentifully can be worked very hard and still keep in 

 good condition a practical proof of its value for stock feeding 

 purposes. This grass, however, will not stand close grazing, 

 and in paddocks that are heavily stocked all the year round, 

 it gradually becomes scarce. It has wonderful recuperative 

 powers, however, and in fenced-off areas it is one of the first 

 indigenous grasses to start into growth after good rains, 

 following on a long period of dry weather. There are two 

 or three forms of this grass, but their qualities are much the 

 same from a stockowner's point of view. Although the 

 Kangaroo Grass develops a number of flowering stems, and 

 to the casual observer would appear to mature a quantity of 

 seed, unfortunately this is far from being the case. The most 

 remarkable circumstance is that some plants produce a little 

 seed whilst others are completely sterile, the latter very greatly 

 predominating. Mueller and Rummel give the following 

 chemical analysis of this grass during its spring growth : 

 Albumen, 2.05 ; gluten, 4.67 ; starch, 0.69 ; gum, 1.67 ; sugar 

 3.06 per cent. 



An illustration of the Kangaroo Grass accompanies this 

 letterpress. 



Landsborongh Grass (Anthistiria membranacea), also 

 popularly known as Barcoo Grass, Flinders Grass, and Red 

 Gulf Grass, occurs on rich land over much of the interior, 

 including Central Australia, and is fairly plentiful in many 



