INTRODUCTION GRAZING DISTRICTS. XXIX 



Amongst exotic forage plants that have become acclimatised in pastures, 

 white clover forms a very large percentage. Indeed, many of the pastures 

 in spring are literally white with the flowers of this plant. Both pastoralists 

 and farmers look upon clover as a valuable pasture plant. In many localities 

 prairie grass is conspicuous in pastures. It is a valuable winter and early 

 spring grass, and its rich succulent herbage is much relished by stock. 

 Trifoliumprocumbens, Linn., has spread much of late years in pastures, but 

 it is not considered to be of very high feeding value. "Yorkshire fog" 

 (Holcus lanatus, Linn.), "soft brome grass " (Bromus mollis, Linn.), " burr 

 niedick " (Medicago denticulate^ Linn.), and several other plants are now 

 established in pastures. 



NOXIOTTS WEEDS. 



In New England, as in most of the settled districts of Australia, many 

 exotic weed pests of a more or less aggressive character have found a con- 

 genial soil and climate to vegetate in, and certain of them have become so 

 plentiful in some localities as to cause anxiety to land-owners. At first sight 

 it no doubt appears very remarkable to most persons that the worst weed 

 pests Australian pastoralists and farmers have to contend against are either 

 of European or American origin. On reflection, however, it will be noted that 

 most of these plants have no natural enemies in Australia, such as keep them 

 within certain limits in their native habitats, consequently they soon grow 

 and occupy large areas, where the conditions are favourable. Many of these 

 pests have been introduced in an accidental way with agricultural seeds, 

 garden seeds, &c. Some plants have been imported for their supposed 

 usefulness, but on account of the enormous amount of seed which they pro- 

 duce, and the prolific way in which they multiply in this genial climate, they 

 prove a pest instead of a blessing, both in cultivation and in pastures. A 

 few years ago a plant of this description, commonly known in this country 

 as "Hexham scent," and to botanists as Melilotus parviflora, Desf., was 

 introduced into the northern districts as a valuable forage plant, but it has 

 now over-run thousands of acres, and the area of its occupation gradually 

 widens from year to year. In some wheat fields it has proved to be a great 

 pest, inasmuch as the seeds ripen about the same time as wheat, and they 

 often get mixed with that grain at harvest time. The " Hexham scent" 

 has a peculiar odour, due to the presence of a chemical principle ''called 

 " coumarin," which is sometimes imparted to wheat, and, of course, some- 

 what depreciates its value from a commercial point of view. Indeed, I have 

 been told that millers have sometimes refused to grind wheat owing to the 

 presence of a number of these scented seeds. Some persons assert that the 

 " Hexham scent" plant produces partial paralysis in sheep and horses when 

 they have eaten too ravenously of it. This statement, however, I think, 

 requires confirmation. I have just mentioned these circumstances to show 

 how necessary it is for experimenters to be exceedingly careful in introducing 

 new plants for cultivation in Australia. 



Perhaps the most common weed pest in New England is the sorrel (Itumex 

 acetosella, Linn.). It seems to luxuriate on almost any kind of soil, and in 

 almost any situation. So far as I could find out, it has produced no ill 

 effects upon stock that have eaten it. In many pastures the so called dan- 

 delions (Hypochceris radiafa, Linn., and H.glalra, Linn.) are very plentiful, 

 and they seem to be spreading in some localities. I was shown pastures 

 where these plants had not made their appearance until a few months ago, but 

 now they appear as if they had come to stay. Although no bad effects on 

 cattle that graze in pastures where these plants occur have been observed, still 

 they are very undesirable weeds, for where they grow very thick the more 



