FODDER TREES 77 



Tree is well worth conserving on those areas on which it is 

 already growing, and planting in the driest districts for feed- 

 ing to stock during prolonged droughts. Under ordinary 

 conditions it produces quantities of seed, which, when ripe, 

 and sown in the ordinary way, germinates readily, so that there 

 would be no difficulty in raising any number of plants. 



Cattle Bush and White Wood are the popular names of 

 Atalaya hemiglauca, a tree occurring in the eastern portion 

 of the continent from the coast to the far interior, but far 

 more abundantly in the latter than the former. It 

 occasionally attains a height of thirty feet or more, and from 

 its trunk exudes a quantity of gum which sometimes accum- 

 ulates in masses, each weighing more than half a pound. It 

 has large, divided, whitish leaves, with leaflets sometimes 

 eight inches long, but generally smaller. Its numerous 

 flowers are disposed in terminal clusters, and are succeeded by 

 winged fruits, which give it an attractive appearance. At 

 all stages of its growth this tree has a decided ornamental 

 appearance, and is often a conspicuous object amongst the 

 surrounding vegetation. It is one of the fodder trees that 

 favourably attracted the attention of stockowners in the early 

 days of pastoral occupation. When grass and other herbage 

 temporarily fail the Cattle Bush is much cut down and the 

 leaves fed to cattle and sheep, which seem to thrive on them. 

 The following chemical analysis of the partially dried leaves 

 of this tree by the authority above quoted, shows them to be 

 of good feeding value : 



Water . . . . . . 37.55 



Ash .. .. .. 6.46 



Fibre .. .. .. 22.05 



Albuminoids . . . . . . 11.63 



Carbohydrates . . . . 20.58 



Nutrient value, 36 ; albuminoid ratio, 1 :2. 



