INTRODUCTION. 



Linn. Var. virqiniana, the " Kentucky blue grass." This species has under- 

 ground stoloniferous roots like our native Cynodon dactylon, Pers. " Couch 

 grass," so on this account it is not easy to exterminate, whilst it affords 

 excellent forage for sheep. The grasses from South Africa did fairly well, 

 especially TricTiolcenct rosea, Nees, the " Red-topped grass" of Natal, which 

 has become quite acclimatised in some situations. Its ripe seeds, being 

 light, are easily disseminated by every wind that blows. Some South 

 American species did well, as also did the " California!! bunch grass," 

 Elymus condcnsatus, Pers. ; but it must be borne in mind that all these 

 exotic grasses were tested in the coastal districts, and it is a question 

 whether they would have grown at all if they had been sown or planted on 

 the arid, central plains of Australia. All these experiments were carried 

 out on a black, loamy soil, but I saw , other experiments carried out on 

 different soils, and the results were much the same, except in the case of 

 pure sand, which appears less favourable to their growth than any other. 

 Even this has species peculiar to itself. I mention these facts, for undue 

 importance has been given by some persons to the different geological 

 formations necessary for the growth of particular pasture plants. Of course, 

 where soils are naturally very light, or very heavy, very dry, or excessively 

 wet, it is than necessary to make a selection of the most suitable species for 

 such situations; but to advise fifty different geological formations for growing 

 the same number of pasture plants is mere pedantry. 



Grasses and other forage plants have been recommended by persons who 

 had formed their judgments of their merits upon imperfect trials or upon 

 everyday evidence. This has caused much disappointment and has discouraged 

 many persons from further endeavours at improvements of their pastures. 

 To this also may be attributed the general indifference towards obtaining a 

 knowledge of the comparative merits of grasses and other forage plants. 

 There is one good thing, however, those persons have done for the country 

 who have recommended exotic grasses for cultivation: they always give 

 directions for the soil to be broken up and brought to a fine tilth before the 

 sowing takes place. But what a contrast this is to the continual struggle 

 for existence the native grasses have to undergo, for the paddocks are often 

 as hard as the roads throughout the country. 



There is no doubt that the pastures in the coastal districts and colder parts 

 of the country can be improved by introducing some exotics, especially those 

 that make their growth during winter and early spring, for as a general rule 

 most of the grasses make their growth during the summer season. Amongst 

 the exceptions are Ag ropy rum scabrum, Beauv., "Wheat grass"; Andro- 

 pogon ctffinis, R. Br., "Blue grass"; Bromus arenarius, Labill, "Barley 

 grass " ; Eriocliloa annulata, Kunth., " Early spring grass " ; Eriocliloa 

 punctata, Hamilt., "Early spring grass"; JLchinopogon ovatus, Beauv., 

 " Bough- bearded grass" ; Danthonia semiannularis, K. Br., "Wallaby grass"; 

 Deyeuxia billardicri, Kunth., " Bent grass " ; Deyeuxia forsteri, Kunth., 

 " Bent grass " ; Diclielachne crinita, Hook,, " Long hair plume grass " ; Diclie- 

 lacJine sciurea, Hook., " Short hair plume grass '' ; Festuca Iromoides, Linn., 

 "Barren fescue"; Lappago racemosa, Willd., "Small burr grass"; and 

 MicrolcBna stipoides, R. Br., " Meadow rice grass." 



Many have thought to improve their grazing areas by introducing English 

 grasses ; but a number of these grasses have been sown in districts and on 

 soils quite unsuited to their growth. Hundreds of acres have been sown with 

 such grasses in this country, and notwithstanding all the money and labour 

 that have been expended in this way over a series of years, there are hardly 

 half a dozen species of agricultural importance that 'have been successfully 



