950 Transactions.—Botany. 
The Californian variety of lucerne or Californian alfalfa, which has 
during the past two years been much written upon in the various agricul- 
tural journals, is a very useful plant, as it will grow a very large and 
abundant crop of herbage either for fodder or making into hay, or for 
grazing upon with periods of rest between the grazings. It forms much 
larger roots than the other lucernes, and is in several other respects 
different ; it is well worthy of culture by the graziers and farmers. The 
plan that I have pursued with it is to allow my cows or bullocks to feed 
upon it for two weeks, then take them out and place sheep on it for two 
weeks to eat it close to the ground; then remove them, and leave the alfalfa 
to grow for a month, and then follow this course again; and for the two 
weeks I allow five large cattle or twenty sheep to the acre. It requires to 
be grown in different enclosures to pursue this system, so that while the 
stock are feeding in one enclosure the other is at rest and able to grow again. 
Another plant, called the prickly comfrey, has recently been recom- 
mended as a fodder or soiling plant. It was introduced into notice in 1811, 
and at that time recommended for fattening stock, but passed out of notice, 
and has since been revived. Of the several comfreys, Symphytum asperri- 
mum is the one now most in fayour. As soon ag I noticed the renewal of 
interest in it, I ordered plants from France and elsewhere, and, having 
obtained them, have now placed them under test culture ; but the time is 
too short to be able to give any details as to their worth or capabilities in 
this colony. 
Agrostis argentea.—A perennial grass of great merit, grows vigorously 
through the spring, summer, and autumn, and part of the winter, yielding 
a fair proportion of nutritive herbage, seeding freely if allowed to do so. It 
is readily eaten by stock, holds its own amongst other grasses, and is a 
valuable grass with mixed permanent grasses on runs or pastures, 
Anthistiria australis.—The seed of this widely-spread Australian grass I 
obtained from Tasmania, the seed came up late in the spring; it sent up 
seed-heads which were three-and-a-half feet in height. 
about the latter end of December ; 
and autumn, until the frosts of 
It was cut for seed 
it continued to grow during the summer: 
grew well, yielding much herbage to 
the stock grazing upon it. It possesses elements well fitted for the growth 
and development of sheep and cattle, and is a good grass for permanent 
pasture, but is better for not being too heavily stocked. 
Avena argentea.—A permanent pasture grass growing an abundance of 
foliage during the autumn, winter, and spring, but somewhat less during 
the dry summer weather; it contains a large amount of nutritive and 
