36 AUSTRALIAN GRASSES AND PASTURE PLANTS 



weather, but this may be accounted for by its strong roots 

 penetrating deeply into the earth. It is a superior pasture 

 grass of which stock of all kinds are remarkably fond and on 

 which they fatten. When there is a scarcity of feed in the 

 pastures, sheep will often eat it so closely to the ground that 

 it has little chance of recuperating as rapidly after rainfall as 

 some other grasses. I have had the Satin Top under experi- 

 mental cultivation, and in a short time it yielded a large 

 quantity of rich, succulent, leafy herbage which horses ate with 

 avidity. When cut in flower it made excellent hay. This grass 

 is well worth systematic conservation and cultivation. When 

 left unmolested for a time it produces a great amount of seed 

 which ripens during the summer and early autumn. There 

 are fifteen species and several varieties of Andropogon in- 

 digenous to Australia, and they are widely distributed over 

 the continent, most of them being excellent pasture grasses. 



Silver Top (Danthonia pallida) grows from two to three feet 

 high and is found in all the States of the Commonwealth 

 from the coast to the interior, but not to the centre of the 

 continent. During the summer months the beautiful silvery 

 white flowers of this grass are often a conspicuous feature in 

 the pastures. It is generally found growing on fertile soils, 

 and in such situations yields, during the summer months, a 

 great amount of rich, leafy herbage much relished by all 

 herbivora, sheep being particularly fond of it and thriving on 

 it. If cut at the flowering period it makes excellent hay 

 which keeps in fine condition for a considerable time if stored 

 under good conditions. The Silver Top is well worth system- 

 atic cultivation either for permanent pasture or for growing as 

 a hay crop. When allowed to remain undisturbed for a time 

 this grass produces an abundance of seed which ripens during 

 the summer and autumn. The seeds germinate readily after 

 the spring and early autumn rains, and in consequence it is 



