XXX INTRODUCTION GRAZING DISTRICTS. 



tender and nutritious herbage is of ten choked out. The "sweet briar" (Rosa 

 rubiffinosff, Linn.) is very common in some localities. There seems to be a very 

 general opinion that this is one of the worst, if not the worst, pest in the 

 district. Once it becomes well established it is both difficult and costly to 

 eradicate. Every one of its long underground roots have to be taken out 

 before the plant can be safely said to be destroyed. It is said to be spreading 

 in different localities, but this is easily accounted for. 



Various kinds of birds eat the fruits of the "sweet briar," and often void 

 the seeds miles from the plants that bore them, where they germinate, and 

 form new colonies. The " English blackberry" (Rubus fruticosus, Linn.) 

 is growing in several localities, and, although not nearly so common as the 

 " sweet briar," it would be advisable to keep it in check to prevent it spreading 

 in the district. Verbascum thapsus, Linn., the " great mullein," has estab- 

 lished itself in some places, and although it is not very common, still, as it 

 produces a great amount of seed in most seasons, it might become a great 

 pest if allowed to grow at its own sweet will for a lengthened period. The 

 prickly pods of the "burr medick" (Medicago denticulata, Willd.) are some- 

 times troublesome to get out of wool, with this exception the plant is 

 considered good herbage. It is common in many localities. In addition to 

 these exotic weeds there are docks of various kinds, which are generally to 

 be seen growing near moist places, and a number of other undesirable plants 

 of less account. Two rather undesirable native plants, from a sheep-owner's 

 point of view, appear to be common in some localities. Unfortunately, I 

 never heard any common name given to either of these plants, so that I shall 

 have to record them under their botanical names: 1 is Accena ovina, A. 

 Cunn. The ovoid fruits of this plant are covered with short barbed prickles, 

 which are sometimes troublesome to get out of the wool. 2 is Arcena 

 sanguisorbce, Vahl. The numerous barbed prickles on the fruits on this plant 

 sometimes cause trouble to the salivary glands of the smaller herbivora that 

 browse upon it. I have seen these barbed fruits carried long distances on 

 the backs of sheep and dogs, so that it is ea?y to account for its distribution 

 in many districts besides JNew England. 



A SUPPOSED POISONOUS PLANT. 



Swainsona galegifolia, E. Br., " Indigo," " Cranky Pea," "Darling Pea," 

 &c. There is probably no other supposed poisonous plant in Australia which 

 has caused so much controversy as the one above referred to. As this plant 

 was figured and fully described by me in the Agricultural Gazette, and in 

 the Town and Country Journal, some time ago, I will just refer to the remarks 

 made by some New England pastoralists whose long experience of the plant 

 entitle them to speak with authority. For analysis of the plant and for 

 further information I would refer my readers to the articles in the above- 

 named journals. Mr. W. H. Walker says "that the 'Darling Pea' is 

 sometimes very troublesome, and cattle, horses, and sheep all suffer from 

 eating it". Mr. G-. H. Gordon says : "In the 'Darling Pea' there certainly 

 exists in a most marked degree constituents injurious to stock, which causes 

 an annual and heavy loss to the pastoralist." Captain A. S. Menzies says : 

 " I have had twenty years' experience of the ' Darling Pea,' or ' Indigo,' and 

 am convinced it is nothing else but poison. When stock eat it they will eat 

 nothing else as long as they can get ' Indigo.' They soon fall awny, have a 

 wild, distressed look, an awkward, quivering gait, distorted limbs and features, 

 and die at last in an emaciated state. It appears to me a narcotic poison, 

 acting on the nerves and brain. The losses on stock all through these 

 districts are large from this cause, especially among young sheep, and the 



