50 Census of the Grasses of New South Wales. 



BKOMUS MOLLIS, Linn. 

 " Soft brome grass." 



An annual species, growing from 1 foot to 2 feet high, which is generally 

 found about old stock-yards in various portions of the Colony, but nowhere 

 very plentiful. It is a purely winter and early spring grass, for on the advent 

 of hot weather it rapidly dies away. It is not of any agricultural value, how- 

 ever, as stock do not care about its hairy, soft leaves, and will not eat it 

 when other grasses are plentiful. The seeds ripen in October and November. 



BKOMUS STERILIS, Linn. 

 " Barren brome grass." 



An annual species, growing from 2 to 3 feet high, which is found only in 

 the coastal districts, but as far as I have been able to find out it is not very 

 plentiful. It makes most of its growth during the winter and early spring 

 months, but dies on the approach of hot weather. Although cattle will 

 graze upon its soft, downy herbage, still it cannot be regarded as a good 

 pasture grass, and they will not touch it when other herbage is plentiful. 

 This grass does not perfect much seed. What little there is, however, ripens 

 in October and November. 



CERATOCHLOA UNIOLOIDES, D'C. 

 " Prairie grass." 



An annual species, growing from 2 to 3 feet high, which is generally found 

 in the coastal districts, and in some places it is very plentiful ; in fact, it is 

 this grass which keeps some of the parks of Sydney beautifully green 

 throughout the winter months. I have no hesitation in saying that this is 

 the best annual grass ever introduced into Australia. From the sweetness 

 of its taste and the greediness with which it is eaten by all herbivora, there 

 can be little doubt that it is a very nutritious grass. It starts into growth 

 after the first autumn rains, and continues throughout the winter and early 

 spring months, until November, when it gradually dies away. During its 

 growing period, however, it yields a phenomenal amount of rich succulent 

 herbage, and if cut before the flower-stems appear, it can be made into 

 excellent hay. This grass will stand close-feeding, and if a fair-sized pad- 

 dock were judiciously penned off, a good flock of sheep could be kept in 

 splendid condition on it for about seven months in the year. It is a prolific 

 seed-bearing grass, and the seeds ripen in October and November. Baron 

 E. von. Mueller and L. B/ummel give the following chemical analysis of the 

 spring growth of this grass : Albumen, 2'SO ; gluten, 3'80 ; starch, 3*30 ; 

 gum, 170 ; sugar, 2'30 per cent. 



DACTYLIS GLOMERATA, Linn. 

 " Cock's-foot grass or orchard grass." 



A perennial species, growing from 1 foot to 3 feet high, which is generally 

 found in the colder parts of the Colony. In the winter and early spring 

 months it yields a tender herbage, which stock of all descriptions are fond of. 

 To render it of any value in permanent pastures, however, it should be kept well 

 eaten down, for, if allowed to grow any length of time unmolested, it forms 

 large tufts of coarse herbage, which stock will not relish whilst other grasses 

 are plentiful. It is not a good grass to sow in mixtures with others, as, from 

 its coarse habit, it generally crowds out the more delicate ones, and it should 



