XVI INTRODUCTION. 



following observations seem to bear out this theory. It has been observed 

 that when oats are grown on poor land and shed their grain, the progeny 

 will, if left uncultivated for a generation or two, revert to the wild oat, but that 

 cultivation will bring the grain back to its proper standard, ^gilops ovata, 

 "Willd, is said to be the origin of all our cultivated wheats, and as convincing 

 proof of this it is a remarkable fact that this genus of grass is subject to 

 the attacks of the same species of parasitic fungi which affect the wheat 

 crops of the present day, and render them somewhat precarious in some 

 districts during certain seasons. When these plants can be so changed 

 with cultivation as to afford us useful grain, it seems a most feasible thing 

 that out of 360 species found 011 this continent, some could be cultivated 

 that would yield good grain without its attendant drawbacks in the way of 

 parasitic fungi, especially on the arid central plains of Australia, where 

 wheat and other cultivated cereals often do not mature grain on account 

 of the excessive dry heat. During my experiments I observed that the 

 grains of some of our grasses developed very much under cultivation, more 

 especially in the case of one species, Astrebla triticoides, E. v. M., var. 

 lapacca. This grass produces ears nearly 6 inches in length, well filled with 

 a clean-looking, firm grain, which separates easily from the chaff, somewhat 

 like wheat, hence the specific name. During my long observations I have 

 never seen any species of parasitic fungi attack either the straw or grain of 

 this grass ; nor, from inquiries, have I ever heard that this grass is affected 

 with fungoid growth. Most grain-producing plants are of annual growth, 

 but this species is perennial, and attains a height of from 8 feet to 4 feet. 

 It has a stout clean straw which would, after the grain was thrashed out, 

 make good fodder. Other species that might be cultivated for grain are : 

 Leersia hexandra, Swartz (the native rice grass), Panicum decompositum, 

 E. Br. ; P. flavidum, Eetz. ; P. semialatuni, E. Br. ; P. trachyrachis, Beiith. ; 

 Setaria glauca, Beauv. ; and S. macrostachya, H.B. et K. 



The following species are the most suitable for growing on wet or 

 uudrained lands : Arthraxon ciliare, Palis, Diplachne fusca, Beauv. ; Elio- 

 nurus citreus, Munro ; Glyceria fluitans, E. Br. ; G. fordeana, E. v. M.; G. 

 ramigera, P. v. M. ; Hemarthria compressa, E. Br. ; Imperata aruudinacea, 

 Cyr. ; Isachne australis, E. Br. ; Ischaernum australe, E. Br. ; Leersia hex- 

 andra, Swartz ; Leptochloa chinensis, Nees. ; L. subdigitata, Trin. ; Panicum 

 indicum, Linn. ; P. melananthum, E. v. M. ; P. prolutum, E. v. M. ; Pas- 

 palum distichum, Linn. ; P. scrobiculatum, Linn. ; Pennisetum compressum, 

 E. Br. ; Phragmites communis, Trin. ; Pollinia i'ulva, Benth. ; Sporobolus 

 diander, Beauv. ; S. virginicus, Kunth. ; and S. indicus, E. Br. This is an 

 exceedingly tough grass which I have often recommended for paper making. 

 In strength, it is nearly equal to the esparto grass of Spain (Stipa tenacissima 

 Linn.), when the latter is grown in Australia. 



Grasses suitable for growing on dry, stony ridges, or on poor soils are: 

 Amphipogon strictus, E. Br. ; Arimdiiiella nepalensis, Trin. ; Cenchrus aus- 

 tralis, E. Br. ; Echinopogon ovatus, Beauv. ; Eragrostis chastophylla, Steud. ; 

 E. eriopoda, Benth. ; E. falcata, Gaudieh ; E. laniflora, Benth. ; E. lacunaria, 

 P. v.. M. ; Eestuca bromoides, Linn. ; Neurachne mitchelliana, Ness. 



Grasses that will grow on the littoral sandy wastes of this continent are 

 of especial value, not only as fodder plants, but because they assist in binding, 

 and thus prevent it (the loose sand) from being blown inland by the fury of 

 sea winds. The following species are among the best for this purpose : 

 Distichlis maritima, Eafin. ; Imperata arundinacea, Cyr. ; Lepturus incur- 

 vatus, Trin. ; L. repens, E. Br. ; L. cylindricus, Trin. ; Paspalum distichum, 

 Linn. ; Schedonorus littoralis, Beauv. ; Spinifex hirsutus, Labill. ; Sporobolus 

 virginicus, Kunth. ; Thuarea sarmentosa, Pers. ; and Zoysia pungens, AVilld. 



