PREFACE. 



To popularise any branch of natural science so as to make it acceptable 

 to the general public it becomes necessary to divest it of as much technical 

 language as possible, without, however, interfering with the scientific name 

 of anything. Some scientific nomenclature must be given to make any 

 object universally understood. It has been often remarked that no books 

 are more ridiculed by the general public than those dealing with science. 

 Keeping these thoughts in mind the author ventures to write a popular 

 description of all the grasses indigenous to New South Wales, so that the 

 information given may be as easily understood in the small settler's home 

 as in the more pretentious dwelling of the pastoralist. In 1879 the writer 

 compiled his first list of 100 Australian grasses, together with a popular 

 description of each species. This led to so much interest being taken in 

 them, both by pastoralists and farmers, that the writer has, since that time, 

 named thousands of specimens sent to him for identification, and given 

 much information as regards their value for forage, hay, &c. It is thought 

 that the present time is most opportune for issuing a full description of all 

 our grasses, so that the latest information regarding their merits may be 

 placed before the public. After the abundant rainfall we have had, the 

 natural grasses will (unless in places where they have been too closely fed 

 down, which, however, is their general condition) produce an abundance of 

 seed, and there should be no difficulty in collecting any quantity in the 

 railway reserves, or in specially reserved areas, for dissemination throughout 

 the country. The time of the year at which each grass ripens its seeds is 

 noted, and also the district or locality where it grows, and whether it is an 

 annual or perennial, and as far as is known its common name is given in the 

 descriptive matter. This will help the collector to identify some of the 

 species. It is generally admitted by all observant persons interested in 

 agricultural and pastoral pursuits that something in the way of systematic 

 cultivation or conservation must be undertaken ere long to save some of 

 our most valuable grasses from extinction. There is no gainsaying the fact 

 that the overstocking of runs has had a most serious effect upon the pastures 

 in this Colony. It not only has destroyed many valuable salinous and other 

 forage plants and grasses, but many useless weeds have sprung up in their 

 places which stock will not touch. Some of these weeds have proved such 

 a pest to the country that legislation has been directed towards their 

 extermination. If this Colony intends to hold her own against the world in 



