INTRODUCTION. xiii 



this is continued, the more valuable herbage -will gradually give way and a 

 less valuable one take its place, that is, from an economic point of view. An 

 instance of this is already taking place in the interior, where the pine scrub 

 (Frenela) has already taken possession of thousands of acres of what was at 

 one time splendid pastoral country. 



By the following figures some idea may be formed of the quantity of grass 

 seeds required for one acre, supposing it to be sown at the usual rate of 

 361b, which, approximately stated, is equal to about 22,000,000 of grains. 

 This applies to ordinary grass seeds, such as some species of Andropogoii, 

 Chloris, Eragrostis, Panicum, c. The number of grains varies somewhat one 

 way or the other (no other seeds in the vegetable kingdom vary more, either 

 in weight or number) according to the good or bad season they were harvested 

 in. An acre well clothed with grass would contain from 15,000,000 to 

 20,000,000 of plants, though in some exceptional cases as many as 40,000,000 

 of plants have been recorded to the acre. Such facts as these" are suggestive 

 and cannot be trifled with, and it is no wonder that thinking persons are 

 apprehensive as to the future condition of our pastures, unless some radical 

 change takes place, in the present system of eating out the best native grasses 

 of the large sheep runs. 



Many persons have thought that by introducing exotic fodder plants and 

 grasses they would in a great measure supersede and improve upon the indi- 

 genous ones. But it has often struck me as being a most remarkable thing 

 that those persons who have written up the supposed virtues of exotics have 

 given no guarantee that our high class wool would be maintained under this 

 new diet. Climate, no doubt, has a great deal to do with the production of 

 high class wool. Still, I cannot close my eyes to the fact that the indigenous 

 vegetation is the principal factor. Keeping these circumstances in view, it 

 is much better to systematically conserve and even cultivate our native fodder 

 plants than to introdace others of which we have only a superficial knowledge. 



Many exotic species have been introduced as good fodder plants, which 

 have proved a positive pest to the country. Every one must be pain- 

 fully reminded of this fact when they see that ubiquitous Cape composite 

 (Cryptostemma calendulacea, R. Br.) which already covers large areas of 

 pasture land, which widen from year to year to the gradual extinction of 

 native herbs and grasses. Over 9.00 species of worthless weeds have been 

 introduced with seeds of exotic fodder plants, or in an accidental way along 

 with other seeds. So great a pest to the country some of these have proved 

 that laws have been directed towards their extermination. The prickly 

 comfrey (Symphytum asperrimum, Bbrst.) washeralded throughout Australia 

 a few years ago as the fodder plant that was to supersede all others. What 

 is the consequence after years of careful nursing ? It has proved to be a 

 positive failure in the country, after all the money expended in introducing 

 and cultivating it. A Canary Island shrub called Tagasasta (Cytisus proliferus 

 Linn.) is now occupying much attention in some quarters, which experience 

 will eventually prove to have been misdirected. I have observed this shrub 

 for a number of years; having raised from seed some of the first plants ever 

 seen in Australia. I have a shrub now under my charge which is about 15 

 feet high, but I can firmly assert that our old man saltbush (Ehagodia 

 parabolica R Br.,) would at the same age have produced about twice the 

 amount of a superior fodder, and would grow in even more adverse circum- 

 stances of drought and heat. To give even a synopsis of all the introduced 

 plants that have proved a pest in the country would occupy much time. 

 There is one more, however, I should like to draw attention to : it is the 

 European dodder (Cuscuta epithymum, "\Villd), a parasitic plant, which grows 

 on the roots of lucerne and clover, and is doing much harm to those pastures 



