INTRODUCTION GRAZING DISTRICTS. 



grass is greedily eateu by all herbivora. Dairy-cows are said to increase 

 their flow of milk after eating plenty of this grass. The " water-couch" is 

 well worth planting iu low, damp situations where it may not already be 

 growing, and where few other good pasture-grasses will grow. The "barn- 

 yard-grass" (Panicum crus-galli, Linn.) grows in moist places, and often 

 attains a height of 8 feet. Although it is only an annual grass, it yields, 

 during the summer months, a great amount of rich succulent herbage, 

 which cattle are remarkably fond of. The " long-hair plume-grass"' 

 (DicJielachne crinita, Hook.) is fairly plentiful in some pastures. On the 

 low flat lands this grass produces a great amount of herbage which is readily 

 eaten by stock. Sorghum plumosum, Beauv., " wild sorghum," grows in some 

 pastures that are not heavily stocked. It is a good grass, and well worth 

 encouraging in pastures. 



Two " panick grasses" (Panlcum effusnm, E. Br., and P. gracile, H. Br.) 

 are fairly plentiful in some situations. On good soils these grasses yield a 

 great amount of succulent herbage which stock are fond of. The " wheat- 

 grass" (Agropyrum scabrum, Beauv.) is conspicuous in some pastures. This 

 is one of the first native grasses to start into growth in spring. Besides 

 these there are other native grasses which occur in varying proportions and 

 add to the valuable herbage of these districts. There are a number of native 

 herbs, other than grasses, which are eaten by stock, but perhaps the most 

 useful are enumerated below. Two plants of the saltbush family are fairly 

 plentiful in some pastures. One of them, Rhagodia linifolia, E. Br., is a 

 procumbent herb, and appears to be much eaten by stock. The other is 

 Chenopodium triangulare, R. Br., which also has procumbent stems, which 

 are readily eaten by cattle. Geranium dissectum, Linn., " crow-foot," and 

 Plant ago varia, H. Br., "native rib grass," grow in many pastures. Amongst 

 exotic forage-plants that have become acclimatised in pastures, white clover 

 (Trifolium repens, Linn.) forms a very large percentage, indeed, many of the 

 pastures in spring are literally white with the flowers of this plant. The 

 " burr iiiedick" (Medicac/o denticulata, Linn.) is common in some situations, 

 and during the early spring months makes good forage for stock. It is only 

 an annual plant, however, and dies out on the approach of hot weather. 

 Plantago lanceolata,Ijiirm., "rib grass," is plentiful in many pastures. Most 

 dairymen regard this plant as excellent feed for cows. "Prairie grass" is 

 conspicuous in many pastures. It is a valuable winter and early spring 

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

 procumbens, Linn., is plentiful in some situations, but it is not considered to 

 be of very high feeding value. 



Noxious WEEDS A]*D SUPPOSED Poisonous PLANTS. 



Although most of the grazing areas in these districts are comparatively 

 free from noxious weeds, there are some pastures where these plants are 

 more plentiful than many owners care to see. In some situations, as have 

 already been referred to, few attempts have been made to eradicate them, or 

 even keep them in check. This is not very encouraging to those persons 

 who strive by every means in their power to keep their pastures clean. It 

 is, of course, a rather costly undertaking to destroy weed pests once they 

 have become fairly established, but it is a comparatively easy task to eradicate 

 them, or keep them within bounds, before they make too much headway. 

 All thoughtful stock-owners are fully alive to the necessity of keeping 

 noxious weeds in check, as they contend, and with reason, that such plants 

 occupy land which would grow much more valuable herbage. Where weed 

 pests are growing plentifully in pastures it must, of course, depreciate their 

 grazing capabilities to a considerable extent. 



