2S 



one and reject the other. The plants are not even in a different stage of 

 growth; they simply are identical in every respect. If they were sent at 

 different times by different people one might solemnly record them as edible 

 or^ the _ reverse, and the information, without qualification, would be 

 misleading. 



The fact of the matter is, there are two factors — the plant and the animal. 

 The plant may vary and be edible in one district or at a particular season 

 of the year, or particular sheep, cattle, or horses may be fond of this par- 

 ticular plant, while others may reject it. In other words, all plants of the 

 same species may not be edible, and all animals of the same kind may not 

 show partiality to the same plants. 



Animals have their idiosyn«orasies just as men have, liking one kind of 

 food and disliking another. If we could but persuade some Australian 

 aniraals that certain plants are so nutritious and palatable if they would only 

 take our advice, what a different place Australia would be! Much depends 

 on the district in which an animal is bred ; much depends on habits of 

 feeding he has recently formed' — in other words, as regards foods an animal 

 may be bred from infancy in the midst of certain food, and use of it may 

 be quite natural to him, or through necessity he imay have become educated 

 to it. In either case he will eat similar food in another district or reject 

 ■dissimilar. 



If the flock or herd be of mixed origin (in the above sense), when they come 

 to a new locality some of the animals will eat a certain plant, while others 

 "will reject it. 



I published a note on Edible and Non-edible Red Gum-leaves (Eucalyptus 

 rostrata) in the AgricnUural Qazette for June, 1899, p. 496. I got speci- 

 mens from Moulamein, absolutely identical as far as I could see, with the 

 labels from the same gentleman that sheep were fond of one and rejected 

 the other. 



Then from Marra Creek, via Nyngan, I have received several specimens 

 of twigs of " Box, Drooping Box, or Ooolabah " {Eucalyptus hicolor, A. 

 Cunn.), i.e., the tree now figured and described, with the following notes: — ■ 

 (1) Sheep will not eat; (2) sheep very fond of this; (5) sheep will eat; 

 (6) sheep fond of this; (8) sheep will not eat. The twigs are all from the 

 «ame species, though doubtless from different trees, and were collected by 

 an esteemed correspondent of the Department (Mr. Grigg). 



From Warena Run, Gastlereagh River district, I have received specimens' 

 of " Bimble Box " {Eucalyptus populifolia. Hook, f .) from the same gentle- 

 man. They appear to be absolutely identical, yet (1) is labelled, " Stock 

 will eat " ; (2) " Stock will eat, but do not care too much for it " ; 

 (3) " Stock will not eat." 



Discussing the matter with Mr. R. H. Cambage, that gentleman gave me 

 1;he following example with regard to one of the She-oaks (Oasuarina) of 

 the interior. 



An old resident mentioned that a man had brought a, team of bullocks a 

 distance of over 100 miles, and wheij camping inquired from my informant 

 Wihat trees were good for feed. On being told that the Belah (Casiiarina 

 lepidophloia was one of the best in this locality, he thereupon cut down a num- 

 ber of branches, only to find his bullocks reject them. He therefore went 

 further afield, and some time afterwards returned to say his bullocks had had' 

 a great blow-out on Bull-oak (Oasuarina Ijiichmanni). When telling me of 

 this, my informant appeared amused at the recollection, for it seemed to him 

 that these travelling bullocks must have a queer palate to prefer Bull-oak to 

 Belah, but the driver explained that they were used to the former in their 

 native district. . 



