INTRODUCTORY. 



I TEUST this little Manual will supply a two-fold demand — that of the farmer 

 and pastoralist, and that of the botanist. The former, whom it is primarily 

 intended to help, may lay aside the botanical descriptions and find, perhaps, 

 that the other notes and the references to plates will not only assist them in 

 identifying the various kinds of grasses, but also in appraising their value, 

 and guide them in taking steps to cultivate and improve them. 



As far as our knowledge extends at present, there are about 3,200 species 

 of grasses, of which 196, comprised in 56 genera, are indigenous to this 

 Colony. "When it is pointed out that the short turf of the tops of our 

 mountain ranges, and some of the tall reedy plants of our lagoons, are alike 

 grasses, it will be at once understood how different in appearance and pro- 

 perties are the plants we call by this name. 



Grasses have flowers and seeds as well as guin-trees or lilies, but owing to 

 the enormous number of herbivorous animals — domestic, such as sheep, 

 cattle, and horses — and wild native animals, such as wallabies and kangaroos, 

 (to say nothing of the ubiquitous rabbit), the flowering and seeding parts of 

 the plant are usually eaten down, so that the diversity that grasses would 

 naturally present is frequently not apparent ; consequently, in many cases, 

 in looking at grasses in the field we have only the leaves to look at, and as 

 there is much similarity between the leaves of many grasses, the difficulty of 

 the pastoralist in learning about them is much increased. If, however, he 

 exercises care, he will see in paddocks from which stock are excluded, or under 

 the shelter of shrubs, fences, stones, &c, grasses which have been allowed to 

 flower, and by examination of these he can usually be able to discriminate 

 most of the grasses on his holding. Nevertheless, however it may be sim- 

 plified, there is no golden road to a knowledge of the grasses any more than 

 to any other branch of knowledge, and those interested in the subject may 

 be reminded that the Department will always be willing to name and give 

 information in regard to any specimen that may be sent. But the grass must 

 be sent in flower or grain ; it will not suffice simply to send blades. 



What we know as grass consists of a number of plants growing closely 



together — for grasses will grow together far more closely than is the case 



with most plants. If a piece of turf be pulled apart it will be seen to be 



composed of little plants with complete roots and leaves, and if not kept 



b 



