Census of the Grasses of New South Wales, 49 



Mr. Martin J. Sutton gives the following analysis of this grass : 



Grass in Dried at 



natural state. 212 Fahr. 



Water 61'S4 



^Soluble albuminoids -69 TSl 



tlnsoluble albuminoids 1-31 3*44 



Digestible fibre 14'43 37'Sl 



Woody fibre , 14'56 38'15 



^Soluble mineral matter 1'76 4*61 



H Insoluble mineral matter -83 2 f 18 



Chlorophyll, soluble carbo-hydrates, &c 4'5S 12'00 



100-00 100-00 



*Containing nitrogen -11 -29 



tContaining nitrogen "2L -55 



Albuminoid nitrogen -32 -84 



Non-albuminoid nitrogen '20 '55 



Total nitrogen -52 1-39 



tContaining silica -38 '99 



yContaining silica -44 1-15 



AYENA EATTJA, Linn. 

 " Wild oats." 



An annual species, growing about 3 feet high, and generally found about 

 stockyards both in the coastal districts and far into the interior. During the 

 winter and early spring months it yields a lot of succulent herbage, which 

 cattle browse upon. "When the hot weather sets in, however, the stems be- 

 come very hard ; then cattle seldom or never touch it. In England several 

 years ago experiments were carried out with this grass with a view of im- 

 proving the grain, and after several years of careful selection and good 

 cultivation, it produced a grain equal to the present cultivated oat. In fact, 

 many botanists are of opinion that the cultivated oat is a domesticated 

 variety of the wild species. The wild oat produces a fair amount of seed 

 when left undisturbed for a time, and it ripens in October and November. 



BRIZA MAXIMA, Linn. 

 " Large quaking grass. 



An annual species, rarely exceeding a foot in height, and generally found 

 in the coastal districts. It makes its growth during the early spring months, 

 but it is of no value from an agricultural point of view, as stock seldom or 

 never touch it. It is a very ornamental grass, however, when in seed, and 

 it may often be seen cultivated in gardens. The imbricated flowers 

 are arranged in panicles, and often are gathered for decorative purposes. 

 The seeds ripen in September and October. 



BRIZA MINOR, Linn. 

 " Little quaking grass." 



An annual species, rarely exceeding 9 inches in height, and generally 

 found all over the Colony, especially near cultivation, and in some situations 

 it is fairly plentiful. It is only found in the spring of the year, for on the 

 advent of hot weather it rapidly disappears. This grass is cultivated in gar- 

 dens, and its ornamental panicles often are gathered for decorative purposes, 

 though not to the extent of the last-named species. The seeds ripen in 

 September and October. 



