EDIBLE SHRUBS 71 



for the foliage is always available as feed for stock. In 

 adverse seasons immense quantities are cut for feed, for most 

 pasture animals are fond of the leaves and do well on them. 

 Analyses show that Mulga foliage is of good feeding value for 

 stock, but when sheep eat the smaller twigs fibre balls some- 

 tunes form in their stomachs. Insect galls, called "Mulga 

 Apples, ' ' occasionally form on the shrubs, and being juicy and 

 edible are often eaten by bushmen and others to assuage their 

 thirst. The Mulga scrubs, when not too dense, afford partial 

 shade and protection to several valuable nutritious grasses 

 which are popularly known as ' ' Mulga Grasses. ' ' The foliage 

 of several other shrubby and sub-arboreal species of Acacia 

 is good feed for stock, and largely used, particularly when the 

 more tender grasses and pasture herbage are scarce. 



Rose Bush, Rose Wood, Emu Bush, and Cabbage Bush, 



are the popular names given in various districts to Hetero- 

 dendron olecefolium, which is a tall shrub occasionally growing 

 twenty feet high or more. It is found in the interior of all 

 the Australian States, and is fairly plentiful on some areas. 

 Its drought-enduring qualities are remarkable, for the hot 

 winds that periodically blow over the inland plains, and the 

 long periods of dry weather that are sometimes experienced 

 there seem to have little effect upon its growth. The leaves 

 of this shrub are from two to four inches long, and its small 

 flowers are succeeded by seeds, each of which is partly en- 

 veloped in a red fleshy substance, largely eaten by emus ; 

 hence one of its popular names. In adverse seasons large 

 quantities are cut, and both cattle and sheep feed upon the 

 leaves with avidity, and seem to do well on them. Analysis 

 show that the foliage is good feed for stock. The late Mr. K. 

 H. Bennett, Yandembah, New South Wales, during his thirty 

 years' experience of this shrub, used it largely as feed for stock 

 in drought time, and regarded it as good auxiliary feed for 



