8o A'^W SOUTH WALES. 



and on poor soils. When growino- on good land tliese grasses yield a 

 great amount of rich, succulent herbage, of which all herbivora are 

 remarkably fond, and fatten on. The seeds usually ripen during the- 

 summer months. Twelve other species of Eragrostis are found in the 

 pastures in varying proportions over nearly the whole of the Colony. 

 Stockmen call certain of them "never fail," on account of their 

 drought-enduring qualities. Many of them will withstand a pheno- 

 menal amount of dry weather, and most of them are excellent pasture 

 grasses. 



Panicum dcccnnpositum,'R. Br. '^Australian millet.-" This valu- 

 able grass is found over nearly the whole of the Colony, from the 

 coastal districts to the far interior, and in some places it is very 

 plentiful. In moist places, and by the side of watercourses, this 

 grass grows 4 feet high, but on the plains it rarely exceeds 2 feet in 

 height. In all its varied forms it yields a most valuable herbage, 

 v.'hich stock of all kinds are remarkably fond of, and fatten on. It 

 makes splendid hay. The seeds usually ripen during the summer and 

 autumn months. At one time the aborigines nsed to collect the seeds 

 in great quantities, grind them between stones, make the meal into 

 cakes, and use them as an article of food. 



Panicnm favidum, Retz. " Yellow-floAvered panick grass." An 

 erect, perennial species growing from 1 foot to 3 feet high, and 

 generally found on the Western plains. On good soils it produces a 

 great quantity of rich, succulent herbage, which stock of all kinds 

 are particularly fond of, and it is said to be one of the best fattening 

 grasses in the interior. It produces an enormous amount of seed ; in 

 fact, the panicles are often so full and heavy with grain that they are 

 weighed down to the ground. The seeds nsually ripen during October 

 and November. Twenty eight other species of Fanicum are found in 

 the Colony, and they form a large per centage of the herbage in the 

 pastures in the coastal districts, on the high table-lands, and in the 

 interior. Most of them are excellent forage grasses, and are held in 

 high repute by stockowners. 



PuUiiiia fidva, Benth. " Sugar grass." A perennial grass which 

 attains sometimes a height of 4 feet, and is found from the coastal 

 districts to the far interior. It is much more common, however, 

 in the latter than in the former portion of the Colony. When in 

 flower the " sugar grass " is easily recognized amongst other herbage 

 by its rich, brown, silky spikes. It is generally found growing on the 

 richest of soils, and often on deep alluvial flats bordering rivers aud 

 creeks. During the summer months, in an ordinary season, it pro- 

 duces a great bulk of rich, succulent, sweet herbage, which is much 

 relished by all herbivora. This grass is held in high repute amongst 

 pastoralists and stockmen. The seeds usually ripen cluriug Novem- 

 ber and December. 



Sorghum plumosum, Beauv. "Wild sorghum." This perennial 

 grass is found principally in the coastal districts, and in the colder 

 parts of the Colony, where it attains sometimes a height of 5 feet. 

 In the New England district it is, when in flower, quite a feature in 

 the pastures, and is regarded as a valuable grass. Horses are said to 

 eat the seeds with avidity, and to thrive on them. In the colder 



