INTRODUCTION. XV 



many persons from further endeavours at the improvement of their pastures. 

 To this also we may attribute the general indifference towards obtaining a 

 knowledge of the comparative merits of grasses and other fodder plants. 

 There is one good thing, however, those persons have done for the country, 

 who have recommended exotic grasses for cultivation. They always give 

 directions for the soil to be broken up and brought to fine tilth before the 

 sowing takes place. But what a contrast this is to the continual struggle 

 for existence our native grasses have to undergo, for the paddocks are often 

 as hard as the roads throughout the country. Under these circumstancec it 

 can hardly be wondered at that many of them present a wiry appearance ; 

 and if it were not for the sharp points on many of our native grass seeds, 

 some of them would have been extinct long ago. These sharp pointed seeds 

 burrow into the soil, and when rain falls to soften it they germinate and 

 grow where it would be practically impossible for exotic ones to live. 



There is no doubt that the pastures in the coastal districts can be im- 

 proved by introducing some exotics, especially those that make their growth 

 during winter and early spring, for as a general rule most of our grasses 

 make their growth during the summer season. Among the exceptions are: 

 Agropyrum scabruin, Beauv; Andropogon affinis, R. Br.; Bromus arenarius, 

 Labill. ; Eriochloa annulata, Kunth ; Eriochloa punctata, Hamilt ; Echino- 

 pogon ovatus, Beauv.; Danthonia semiannularis, R. Br.; Deyeuxia Forsteri, 

 Kunth ; Dichelachne crinita, Hook ; Dichelachne sciurea, Hook ; Festuca 

 bromoides, Linn. ; Lappago racemosa, Willd. ; and Microlaena stipoides, ~R. 

 Br. Before an attempt is made at the systematic cultivation of our indi- 

 genous fodder plants and grasses, it will be necessary to have some data to 

 work upon. For the benefit of those persons who desire to enter upon 

 their cultivation, I will divide them into groups, and give a synopsis of 

 those species which a long study has led me to believe will be most suited to 

 our requirements for general pasture and hay-making, cultivating for grain, 

 species suitable for wet or undrained soils, also for dry soils, and for binding 

 the littoral sands. I have already mentioned those species most suitable 

 to cultivate for ensilage. 



Ihe species suitable for general pasture and hay- making are : Agro- 

 pyrum scabruin, Beauv.; Andropogon bombycinus, R. Br. ; A. erianthoides, 

 F. v. M.; A. intermedius, E. Br.; A. pertusus, Willd.; A. refractus, R. Br.; 

 A. sericeus, R. Br. ; Anthistiria ciliata, Linn. ; A. membranacea Lindl. ; 

 Astrebla elymoides, F. v. M. ; A. pectinata, F. v. M. ; A. triticoides, F. v. M.; 

 Chloris acicularis, Lindl. ; C. truncata, R. Br. ; C. ventricosa, R. Br.; Chryso- 

 pogon gryllus, Trin. ; Cynodon dactylon, Pers. ; Danthonia longifolia, R. Jt3r. ; 

 D. pallida, R. Br. ; D. pilosa, R. Br. ; D. semiannularis, R. Br. ; Dichelachne 

 crinita, Hook. ; Eleusine aegyptiaca, Pers. ; Eragrostis brownii, Nees. ; E. 

 pilosa, Beauv.; Eriochloa annulata, Kunth. ; E. punctata, Hamilt. ; Micro- 

 loena stipoides, R. Br. ; Panicuin decompositum, R. Br. ; P. distachyum, 

 Linn ; P. divaricatissimum R Br. ; P. effusum, R. Br. ; P. flavidum, 

 Retz. ; P. leucophoeum, H.B. et K. ; P. macractinum, Benth. ; P. 

 P. melananthum, F. v. M. ; P. reversum, F. v. M. ; P. trachyrachis, Benth. ; 

 P. prolutum, F. v. M. ; Poa coespitosa, Forst. and Setaria glauca, Beauv. 



GRASS TO CULTIVATE FOB GEAIN. 



It is a most remarkable fact that the native country of wheat, oats and 

 barley should be entirely unknown. Many eminent botanists are of opinion 

 that all our cereals are artificial productions, obtained accidentally, but retain- 

 ing their habits, which have become fixed in the long course of ages, and the 



