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Remarks on some Indigenous Shrubs of 

 South Australia suitable for Cultiva- 

 tion AS Fodder. 



By Samuel Dixon. 



[Read February 5, 1885.] 



In considering some of tlie fodder plants of South Australia, 

 iinstead of drawing ^^our attention to the herbs and grasses, 

 which are popularly looked upon as comprising our only stock 

 foods, I am desirous of making some practical remarks upon a 

 number of plants, usually shrubs or small trees, which consti- 

 tute a most important part of the food of sheep and cattle, 

 especially in the drier and more arid portions of this colony, 

 some of which are to be found widely spread through nor- 

 thern districts, and extending to our eastern and western 

 boundaries. The subject cannot be exhausted in one evening, 

 but I feel that in view of its great importance to the well-being 

 ■of the colony I may by bringing it under the notice of the 

 Eoyal Society of South Australia assist in spreading a know- 

 ledge of the advantages of preserving, cultivating, and increas- 

 ing the growth of a class of stock food which suffers but 

 ^slightly from droughts, and which by its abundance adds greatly 

 to the numbers of stock depasturing in certain areas, and by 

 providing a constant supply of wholesome food promotes the 

 growth and quality of that wool which is our chief export ; and 

 finally, adds so much flavour and sweetness to our mutton. It 

 seems very desirable that many of these plants should be ex- 

 tensively cultivated, as their foliage becomes available when 

 the grass is either gone or has lost all its nutritious qualities. 

 In the large estates used solely as sheep-walks, lying 

 mostly 'to the north of Adelaide, if belts of these native shrubs 

 were laid out and the sheep only admitted during the months 

 •of April, May, June, and July, I am convinced the condition 

 of the sheep would be better maintained, and consequently the 

 grov.th of wool sounder and more abundant ; the percentage 

 •of lambs would be higher, and in the long run more stock 

 would be carried on the same area. 



The study of shrubs edible for stock is one of the very 

 greatest practical importance not only to the sheejD farmer, but 

 to all dependent on him in business ; the presence or absence 

 of certain of them renders the occupation of large tracts of 

 country profitable or the reverse, and an adequate knowledge 

 •of them is of the first importance. At present very few of 



