rURTHER REPORT ON THE NUTRITIVE VALUE OF CERTAIN 

 AUSTRALIAN GRASSES. 



By Margaret H. O'Dwyer, B.Sc, Science Research Scholar in the University 

 of Sydney. 



[Read 27th September, 1922.] 



Some little time ago (Proe. Linn. Soc. N.S. Wales, xlvi., 1921) the author 

 communicated to the Society a paper which dealt with the results of certain 

 analyses of the native grasses of Australia, taken with regard to their nutritive 

 value. The results were based mainly on the examination of the first stage of 

 gTowth of each gi-ass, i.e., the period about half-way between the time when it 

 begins to shoot and the early flowering period. 



At the time certain data relating to the second and third stages were avail- 

 able. These have since been added to, and as the author will have, at any rate, 

 for some time, no chance of extending this information, the publication of these 

 results in their present state may be of some value. 



The second stage chosen for analysis is that known as the early flowering 

 period, and the third stage that at which the seed is cjuite set. 



Some interesting features have been observed in the gTasses examined and 

 the results of the analyses are given in the subjoined table. 



A sample of Pollinia fulva was obtained from Hawkesbury Agricultural 

 College. The experimentalist there stated that this grass was suffering from a 

 fungoid disease, which Mr. W. L. Waterhouse, Lecturer in Plant Pathology in 

 the University of Sydney, considers is probably smut. On analysis the percentage 

 of crude protein in this sample was found to be exceptionally low, the percentage 

 of ether extract and of pentosan less than that generally met with in grasses 

 examined at the same stage, while the percentage of the crude fibre was higher 

 than usual. Andropogon intermedius from Bathurst Experiment Farm, which 

 the experimentalist reported to be ergot-infected, also showed a low percentage 

 of protein. These points should prove of some interest when further diseased 

 samples are being analysed. 



