/^l:*.f>:V..'J5?i.1>'.--.v 8 



especially on the banks of rivers and creeks. It grows in good soil to an 

 enormous size, choking, like the variegated thistle, the surrounding herbage. 



Coekspur. Centaurea melitensis. Linn. A native of the Mediter- 

 ranean region, was introduced as far back as 1844, and has spread 

 with rapidity, over cultivated as well as waste ground and pasture land, and 

 appears abundant in various parts of the colony. Like the Bathurst bur, it 

 was first observed on the roadsides, and the wind, as is the case with most of 

 the composite, carries the winged light seed to a great distance. Stock will 

 eat the plants when young, but will not touch it after the appearance of the 

 flower stalks. On fallow and pasture land it forms thick swaths, and chokes 

 the more tender indigenous herbs. 



The following three species of Horse Thistle, viz., Cirsium lanceolatum, 

 Scop., C. palustre, Scop., and C. arvense. Scop., natives of Europe, also become 

 troublesome to the agriculturists. It is said that they have been introduced 

 from Victoria and Tasmania. 



Stinkaster. Inula suaveolens, Jacq. A native of South Europe, is 

 the most noxious and dangerous plant ever introduced. Neither cattle nor 

 sheep will touch it, and it increases with most alarming rapidity. This plague 

 was first noticed in the Onkaparinga district as far back as 1863, and, it 

 is said, was introduced with seed wheat from home. Not knowing its dan- 

 gerous character, no notice was taken of the plant until its fast spreading 

 became apparent, and that no cattle would touch it, probably not liking the 

 disagreeable odour the plant emits. 



Its winged light seed flies with the prevailing winds to a great distance. 

 It forms a thick swath, and smothers the indigenous herbage. The pasture 

 land taken possession of by it becomes valueless, as the weed cannot be 

 extirpated without heavy cost. Although only an annual, this useless plant 

 is a prolific seed-bearer, and keeps its vitality for years. Thousands of 

 acres of pasture land towards north and south, extending sixty to eighty miles 

 from its starting point, has been taken possession of by this pest, and such 

 lands as are covered with this weed have a most desolate appearance. 



In cultivated land it is not so dangerous ; the seed begins first to germi- 

 nate in September and October, and the young plants are choked by the 

 growing crops ; but the haylands suffer, because the young plants spring up 

 after the hay has been mown. 



Cape Dandelion. Cryptostemma calendulacea, R. Br. A native 

 of the Cape. It was in the year 1850 that I first noticed a few isolated 

 plants on the side of the road leading through the Gawler Plains. The 

 following year a few made their appearance on the banks of the Gawler Hirer. 



