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plants, and once the latter are destroyed by close feeding, it will 

 take a considerable amount of time and trouble to re-stock the land 

 with them. 



Of the introduced grasses the Johnson grass will stand heat 

 best, but to give a good return it requires a free, deep soil. Lucerne 

 will stand heat well, but to thrive, its roots must penetrate to mois- 

 ture. A free deep soil in which lime is plentiful is suitable to this 

 plant. In coastal country the buffalo grass and the various couch 

 grasses may answer. Buffalo grass has been used in Victoria on 

 sandy hills near the coast to prevent the strong prevailing winds 

 blowing the soil away, and it has answered the purpose admirably. 

 It is extremely doubtful if it would grow with anything like the 

 same vigour in a hot district with inferior soil and scanty rainfall. 



The prickly pear thrives in the poorest and driest country. 

 Its leaves are succulent and provide both \vater and food for 

 stock, but the spines with which they are covered render 

 them worse than useless. Often in Queensland the stock 

 are driven by hunger to eat the leaves of the prickly pear, but they 

 generally die from their stomachs being lacerated by the spines 

 they swallow. If a practical mode of ridding the leaves of the 

 spines could be discovered, the prickly pear, instead of being a 

 curse, \vould prove a blessing to the pastoralists in the hot dry 

 regions of Australia. Many attempts have been made to accom- 

 plish this end, but as yet no plan has been hit upon to utilise this 

 fodder. 



Mr. F. Turner in his work, Australian Grasses, mentions the 

 following as growing in the arid interior of the continent : 



Silkyheads (Andropo^on bombycinus). Grows principally on the 

 plains of the interior. Will withstand a phenomenal amount of dry 

 weather. It produces a large quantity of seed and the herbage 

 becomes harsh when old, but it may serve as a standby for a bad 

 year. It may be recognised by the stem when crushed emitting an 

 aromatic perfume. The white woolly spikelets give this plant a 

 singular appearance. 



Cottongrass (Panicnin Icucopha'iiui). A good pasture grass 

 noticed by the Elder exploring expedition in Western Australia. It 

 is easily distinguished by the spikelets being covered with long silky 

 purple hairs. A good pasture grass and easily cultivated. 



Branched panic grass (Panic inn cjfiisniii). Grows all over 

 Australia. Makes considerable growth before developing ilower 

 panicles, which renders it a good grass to cultivate for hay. 



Australian millet (Paniciiiii dfcompositum). This grass was 

 collected by the Elder expedition. The natives grind the seeds to 

 make a sort of cake. 



Umbrella or spider grass (Cli Ion's acicnlaris). Grows throughout 

 the interior of the continent. A good pasture grass, growing on 

 sandy or light loamy soils. It seeds freely, and stock like it. The 

 famous Mitchell grasses of Queensland are regarded as the best 



