88 AUSTRALIAN GRASSES AND PASTURE PLANTS 



produces a bulk of nutritious, leafy herbage on which stock do 

 well. If cut when in flower it makes very fine hay and chaff. 

 The Red Top Grass will not stand close grazing, but it soon 

 recuperates when the paddocks are lightly stocked. 



Smooth Stalked Meadow Grass (Poa pratensis), (called 

 "Kentucky Blue Grass" in America, where it is largely 

 cultivated and held in high repute by stockowners), grows 

 from one foot to two feet high, and thrives on different 

 geological formations in the cooler coast areas, and on the cold 

 tablelands. In permanent pasture it is one of the first 

 grasses to start into growth in early spring, and from that time 

 till early summer, and throughout that season if it is a favour- 

 able one, it yields a fair quantity of fine, nutritious herbage 

 much liked by all herbivora. In most situations it forms a 

 dense turf of a dark bluish-green colour, and in consequence is 

 a very popular lawn-grass. This grass should never be sown 

 on land intended for subsequent cultivation, for after being 

 laid down for some years it develops a very strong root system 

 which is difficult to eradicate. 



South African Rhodes Grass (Chloris gayana) thrives in 

 districts not subject to sharp frosts, but attains greater per- 

 fection near the coast than far inland unless irrigation is possible. 

 In a young state it develops numerous running stems, which 

 root at every joint. After these have covered the ground 

 allotted to them, the shoots assume an upright position, finally 

 attaining a height of from four to six feet or more. Under 

 ordinary conditions it yields an immense quantity of herbage, 

 which is readily eaten by all kinds of stock, which thrive on it. 

 This luxuriant grass should not be grown in pastures amongst 

 dwarf ones, as it would be likely to suppress them in a short 

 time. If cut when in flower this South African grass can be 

 made into excellent hay, and the green herbage can be chaffed 

 and fed to stock. The following chemical analysis, made by 



