..i:\s-is \\i. PASTUBES. 729 



SECTION X 



Grasses and Pastures/ 



It is only during the pasi fifty years thai grasses common in other countries 

 have been introduced into New South Wales. Up to thai time native 

 pastures provided by far the larger proportion of animal food ; now, however, 

 native grassess have been replaced very largely by introduced grasses ( pas- 

 paluin, rye grass, &C.) on the coast, and by introduced herbage (trefoil, 

 crowfoots, *kc.) in the wheat-growing districts. In the interior, beyond the 

 wheat-belt, the native grasses are still supreme. 



Bui it must not be assumed that native grasses find no place on the table- 

 lands and coast. In certain positions — for example, on poor soils, or on 

 slopes where cultivation is impracticable — the native grasses are indispensable. 

 It is questionable whether, under any process of tillage or cultivation, any 

 introduced grass could be found superior to our native couch on poor, sandy 

 soils, or in the Cumberland district in general. If, again, the seed of our 

 native grasses were capable of easy germination, and on the market, it would 

 be a difficult matter to replace such grasses as water couch {Paspalv/m 

 distichum), Paddock love grass (Eragrostis leptottaehya), .Slender panic grass 

 (Panicum gracih), and many others. 



However, it is generally recognised on the coast and tablelands that where 

 the soil is suitable and where cultivation is practicable, the laying down of 

 introduced grasses substantially increases the carrying capacity of the area, 

 and produces a greater revenue. Particularly is this the case with newly- 

 cleared scrub lands. In such positions the best of the native grasses would 

 soon be eaten out after clearing, and their places taken by the more worthless 

 grasses and weeds. A surer and quicker revenue is produced by laying down 

 to paspalum, Rhodes, or other introduced grasses, where the rain, falling on 

 the newly -formed ashes, renders the seed capable of easy germination. 



A Good Pasture. 



Best results are obtained from those pastures which are re-cultivated and 

 re-sown after a certain period ; without treatment a pasture cannot be 

 expected to give satisfactory results after a number of years. Many 

 farmers take no cognisance of the comparative values of various grasses, 

 "plenty of grass" being applied to any thick growth irrespective of its 

 nature. As a rule, however, good land generally grows nutritious and 

 palatable grasses, while poor land grows the harsher and more innutritions 

 kinds. It is just as advisable, however, for a farmer to increase the quantity 

 of nutritious grasses on his good land as it is for him to increase the carrying 

 capacity of his poor land. If he has good land carrying a sheep per acre, for 

 example, he would value the land at producing, say, £\ per acre ; it is often 

 possible to double this carrying capacity by introducing heavier yielding 

 grasses, and the land would then return him £2 per acre, or an increase of 

 £1 per acre. On the other hand, if his poor land carries one sheep to 3 acres, 

 and he manages to double this, he is only increasing the value of Ins land £1 

 for 3 acres. 



* E. Breakwell, B.A., B.Sc. 



