INTRODUCTION GRAZING DISTRICTS. XXXI 



plant seems to be increasing. It is worse in sheep country than where cattle 

 are run, probably because the latter country is never so heavily stocked. It 

 should be noted that the poison has a marked effect on the fleece of an 

 * Indigo' eater. The wool is nearly always very clean, peculiarly soft, light 

 in condition, and fine in quality. The growth of the wool, so far as length 

 is concerned, does not seem to be at all checked ; but the fleece generally is 

 much lighter. The effects generally of the poison pea through these districts 

 are simply disastrous. It is impossible to properly stock the country, and 

 even with all precautions, and with constant care, the losses are at all times 

 very large." 



IMPROVEMENT or PASTUEES. 



Although many of the pastoral holdings in New England are of con- 

 siderable area, there are a number of farmers who possess feir-sized home- 

 steads, and who combine agriculture with grazing. Until so many fine 

 cattle were fattened in the district, and creameries and butter factories were 

 established in different localities, very little attention appears to have been 

 given to the improvement of pastures. In ordinary seasons the natural 

 herbage always provides an abundance of rich succulent feed in summer; 

 but it is during the cold winter months, when most of the native grasses 

 cease to grow, that the want of green feed in pastures is mostly felt, more 

 particularly so now that New England has entered largely into competition 

 with those districts which have a milder climate in winter, and are more 

 conveniently situated to large centres of population. To keep cattle in good 

 health and condition in the colder parts of the country they must be 

 regularly supplied with good feed during the winter months, as well as in the 

 summer season. In the face of the great competition that there is at the 

 present time, neither graziers, especially those who fatten stock, nor dairy- 

 men, who depend upon a good milk supply, can afford to allow their cattle 

 to fall seriously out of condition at any season of the year. Although a 

 great amount of oats and wheat is grown for hay, and largely used as 

 auxiliary feed for stock during the winter season, cattle that are always 

 allowed to graze in pastures during the summer months, require some green 

 and succulent feed to keep them in a healthy condition during the cold 

 weather. To show how green feed in pastures is valued in the winter-time 

 I will just mention three grasses which are favourably looked upon and 

 encouraged in many localities. They are (I) "Yorkshire fog" or "meadow 

 soft grass" (Holcus lanatus, Linn.) ; (2) " Barren fescue" (Festucabromoides, 

 Linn.); and (3) one of the "barley-grasses" or "squirrel-tail grass" 

 (Hordeum murinum, Linn.) In most parts of the world these grasses are 

 not considered of much value as pasture-plants. The two last-named are 

 annuals, and generally die out on the approach of hot weather. In places 

 where th( j y have grown very thickly on the ground large bare patches are 

 left in the pastures in the summer-time. The Illawarra dairymen look upon 

 " Yorkshire fog" as a great pest in pastures. In some parts of Europe the 

 " squirrel-tail grass" is common by waysides, and its ripe awns or heads are 

 so injurious to the gums of horses in the Isle of Thanet that one of the 

 greatest recommendations of an inn is having " hay without any admixture 

 of squirrel-grass." So one may gather from this that a grass which is 

 considered to be a pest in one country or district proves useful in other 

 localities Many experienced pastoralists say, and with reason, that there 

 are no better grasses in the world for summer feed than those that are 

 indigenous to New England, and it is only because they do not grow during 

 the winter months that stock-owners are at all anxious about their pastures. 

 The want of green feed in pastures during winter has forced itself very 



