INTRODUCTION. 



IT is aii old proverb that &ays " comparison's are odious," but I think 

 I will be pardoned if I preface this introduction by quoting the following 

 official figures from Mr. T. A. Coghlan's, " Seven Colonies of Australasia, for 

 1894," which show at a glance the value of five of the principal products 

 that were raised in Australia during the year 1892 : Wool, 17,855,824 ; 

 gold, 5,703,064 ; silver, 2,520,220 ; coal, 1,605,740 ; copper, 301,241. 

 These figures clearly indicate from, what product the principal wealth of this 

 country is obtained. The number of sheep in Australia in 1892 was 

 estimated at 101,637,179; and the number of cattle in the same year at 

 11,351,967. The value of the pastoral property was estimated in 1893 

 at over 200,000,000 (two hundred millions) sterling. If this enormous 

 sum represents the value of the pastoral industry, what must be the value of 

 the indigenous forage plants and grasses which provide feed for the millions 

 of animals that are now r grazing in this country ? I think it may be safely 

 said that very few, even amongst the most experienced pastoralists, ever look 

 at the matter from this point of view, yet it is the most important one. It 

 is the valuable herbage that is growing in this country, though it is not so 

 plentiful and varied in some districts as it used to be, that has made 

 Australia noted throughout the world for its rich pasturage. Shrewd business 

 men have been often heard to make the remark, " What would Australia do 

 without its wool " ? but very few persons, however, ever pause to think what 

 Australia would do without the indigenous herbage, which is really the 

 principal factor in creating this valuable product. It is also often remarked, 

 that the Australian climate is peculiarly favourable for the production of 

 high class wool. Admitted that this may have some influence, thoughtful 

 persons cannot close their eyes to the fact that good pasture is a more essential 

 factor. 



Considering that the prosperity of the people on this continent greatly 

 depends, and will do so for many years to come, upon the quantity and also 

 the quality of the wool, beef, mutton, butter, tallow, hides, &c., that are 

 raised here, both for home consumption and for export ; it has been a subject 

 for remark that so little practical information, with the exception of my own 

 publications, about the comparative merits of the different species of forage- 

 plants and grasses that are indigenous to this country has been disseminated. 

 Many successful pastoralists and dairymen have admitted to me that they 

 knew very little about the forage-plants and grasses in their districts until 

 they saw my figures and read my descriptions of them. 



As a means of giving reliable information to the rising generation, the 

 comparative merits of the indigenous forage-plants and grasses, indeed the 

 vegetation in general, might form a part of the curriculum of the national 

 education. If there were placed in all country State schools an enlarged 

 drawing of each valuable species of forage-plant and grass, that is peculiar 

 to the district in which the school was situated, with its botanical and common 

 name, together with a short popular description, and if possible analysis, it 

 might make a lasting impression upon the young mind, and would, most 

 probably, lead to valuable results in after years. 



