114 



The wide diffusion and variability of this grass have already been 

 alluded to. In some forms the panicle is much looser than shown in 

 our drawing ; in others, the amount of twist (" corkscrewness") of the 

 awn varies, and other points of variation might be mentioned. 



Value as fodder. — Although this is a rather coarse grass, it is useful 

 on account of its drought-resisting qualities. It is much relished by 

 stock of all kinds, and is very nutritious while young and tender. Mr. 

 Bacchus says of it : " By reason of its early growth of nice tender 

 herbage, which stock are fond of, it constitutes a useful part of the 

 supply of early annual grasses. " There is no doubt at all that it is a 

 really valuable grass before the " seeds" (" spears") ripen, and hence 

 it is admissible into the category of " useful plants "; but a sad draw- 

 back to its value is the danger to sheep and wool from these seeds. 

 They are produced in large quantities, are caught up by the wool, and 

 by the mouth and nostrils. The structure of the " seeds" is suffi- 

 ciently shown in the drawing, and they work home as certainly as a 

 corkscrew or a gimlet. Mr. Bacchus says : " I once lost 800 out of 

 2,000 lambs by placing them on a part of the run which had been 

 rested for some time where this grass abounded, and was just begin- 

 ning to shed its seeds, which penetrated the skin in hundreds ; and, 

 but for being able to get them shorn at once, I believe nearly all the 

 lambs would have died." Mr. Alfred Hawkesworth, who has had a 

 good deal of experience in such matters, has been kind enough to give 

 me the following note on the terrible havoc spear-grass sometimes 

 works with sheep : — " Of all grasses and weeds, spear-grass seeds are the 

 most damaging to sheep and wool. Being straight, and with sharp- 

 pointed ends, when once they get attached to the wool they lie 

 parallel with the staples and fibres, and by the movement of the animal 

 they work their way on to the skin. In extreme cases the fleece is 

 composed of fully 75 per cent, of spear-grass seeds, so persistently do 

 they hold on to the wool. When once they get a hold, they never 

 fall out. In the same way, when these sharp-pointed seeds enter the 

 skin, they work through it, right into the sheep, until they come in 

 contact with the vital organs, which results in certain death. I have 

 seen them in the heart of a sheep, and even having a hold on the 

 bones, from which they could not be pulled ; they would break off. 

 I once saw a mob of sheep that had travelled from Hughenden to 

 Townsville (Queensland), where they were slaughtered, and the spear- 

 grass seeds were so dense and tenacious that they had to be cut 

 through, in order that the skins might be released ; also, all through 

 the body, to the intestines and lungs, they were present in large 

 quantities. The face, also, suffers greatly, making the sheep blind in 

 a very short time. I am of opinion that spear-grass country is only 

 fit for cattle." This bad character must not be borne entirely by 

 S. setacea, as some other Australian species of Stipa contribute to 

 this result, and the blame must be borne by them jointly. Spear- 

 grasses are also credited with destroying a large number of young 

 chickens. 



Stipa spartea is also injurious to sheep in Manitoba, Canada. Mr. 

 E. M. Christy observes (Proc. Linn. Soc. 1883-6, p. 57):— "This 



