84 AUSTRALIAN GRASSES AND PASTURE PLANTS 



condition by allowing stock to keep it fairly well eaten down, 

 for the young growth is more eagerly sought after than the 

 older stems and leaves. The seeds of this grass should be sown 

 in early autumn, and if possible after rainfall; then quick 

 germination will be assured and the resulting grass will make 

 considerable headway before the cool season sets in. 



Cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata) is perhaps the most 

 generally useful of all the introduced pasture grasses, but 

 thrives only in the cooler and colder parts of the continent. 

 It does well on a variety of soils, but grows taller and yields 

 more and better herbage on fairly strong land. In a young 

 state this grass is greedily eaten by all kinds of stock, which 

 fatten readily on it. Cocksfoot can be cut for hay, and the 

 aftermath provides good grazing till late autumn. Mueller 

 and Rummel give the following chemical analysis made on the 

 late spring growth of this grass : Albumen, 1.87 ; gluten, 

 7.11 ; starch, 1.05 ; gum, 4.47 ; sugar, 3.19 per cent. 



Crested Dog's Tail (Cynosurus cristatus) is a dwarf, 

 compact-growing, deep-rooted grass capable of withstanding 

 much dry weather. Its chief value is for permanent sheep 

 pasture, and its nutritious herbage is much liked by all herbi- 

 vora. In the colder districts it also makes a good lawn grass. 



Fescues. Several kinds of Fescue do well in Australia 

 and are suitable for sowing in grass mixtures. Amongst the 

 best are the following : Hard Fescue (Festuca ovina, var. 

 duriuscula) is an excellent hardy grass, growing about eighteen 

 inches high, producing the best yield of herbage on light, 

 loamy soils. It will not thrive on strong, clayey land. Its 

 nutritious herbage is much relished by all herbivora. Chew- 

 ing's Fescue is a sub-variety of the Hard Fescue, and is well 

 worth growing under similar conditions. The Red or Creeping 

 Fescue (Festuca ovina, var. rubra) is, on account of its creeping 



