Census of the Grasses of New South Wales. 13 



forms large patches of foliage, which, at a casual glance, may look very 

 coarse, still it is not despised by stock, and even small herbivora will eat it 

 when in a young state, for then the herbage is rich and succulent. This 

 valuable alpine grass is worth disseminating throughout the colder parts of 

 the Colony, where such vegetation may be scarce. The seeds ripen in 

 December, January, and February. 



DANTHONIA SEMI ANNUL AKIS, E. Br. 



" Wallaby grass." 



A perennial species of variable habit, sometimes only 6 inches high, at 

 other times rising to 3 or more feet. In all its varied forms, however, it is 

 one of the most nutritious grasses in the Colony, and unlike most other species 

 of this genus, it will grow more or less all the year round. Stock of all descrip- 

 tions are remarkably fond of it, and crop it so close down that in the 

 colder parts of the Colony it gets little chance to perfect any seed. In the 

 warmer parts, however, it produces an abundance of seed, which germinates 

 readily after showery weather in the autumn or spring months. The roots 

 of this grass penetrate deeply into the ground, which enables the plant, when 

 growing in the interior, to withstand long spells of dry weather with 

 impunity. Under cultivation, this grass produces a great amount of rich 

 succulent herbage, which makes splendid hay. It would well repay syste- 

 matic cultivation either for permanent pasture or making into hay. 

 Although this grass is not particular as to soil or situation, still it grows 

 best on a moderately rich strong loam, of good depth. In the interior this 

 grass ripens its seeds in October, but in the coastal districts and colder 

 parts of the Colony it is generally one or two months later. 



DESCHAMPSIA OESPITOSA, Beauv. 

 "Tufted hair grass." 



A perennial grass, growing from Ifoot to 3 feet high, and is generally found 

 on low marshy land, or in wet places on mountain sides, in the southern 

 portions of the Colony. Except in a young state, stock seldom touch it. As 

 regards its nutritive qualities, it will be seen from the "Woburn experiments 

 that its cultivation cannot be recommended. " At the time of the seed 

 ripening it yielded at the rate of 10,209 Ib. of green produce per acre, 

 which lost in drying 6,891 Ib., and afforded of nutritive matter only 319 Ib." 

 Johnson, in his work on British grasses, says of the tendency of this 

 grass to form tussocks, " In the economy of nature, these tufts, so unsightly 

 and disfiguring to the cultivated landscape, are valuable by contributing to 

 elevate and solidify low lands liable to be overflowed by rivers, and where 

 they occur on hill and mountain slopes, by binding she spongy soil and pre- 

 venting the slips which would leave them bare." The seeds ripen during 

 November and December. 



DETEUXIA BILLABDIEBI, Kunth. 



" Bent grass." 



A species growing from 6 to 18 inches high, according to the soil and 

 situation it is found in, of perennial growth when found in moist pastures, 

 but on high dry land it dies on the approach of hot weather. On good soils 

 it yields a fair quantity of rich succulent herbage, of which sheep are very 

 fond. This grass has'an extensive range of growth in the coastal districts, 

 being found from Illawarra to the Tweed. It produces a quantity of seed 

 which ripens in October and November. 



