INDIGENOUS AUSTRALIAN FORAGE PLANTS. 205 



See also " Remarks on some indigenous shrubs of South 

 Australia suitable for culture as fodder." (S. Dixon). Proc. R. 

 S. of S.A., Vol. viii. See also a paper by the Rev. Dr. Woolls, 

 " On the Forage Plants indigenous in New South Wales." (Proc. 

 Linn. Soc., N.S.W., vii., 310.) 



Notes on the plants eaten (whether from inclination or necessity) 

 by stock, with good or bad results, the distribution of them, 

 together with any other particulars bearing upon their use as 

 fodder-plants, are much required, as the systematic recording of 

 such information is even yet (at least as far as Australia is 

 concerned) in its infancy. It is highly desirable to collect seeds 

 of each useful (or likely to be useful) fodder-plant, for experimental 

 cultivation, either with the view to its improvement under such 

 treatment, or with the view to acclimatise it in some other 

 country in which it is not indigenous or already introduced. A 

 careful system of exchange of this kind cannot but result in 

 benefit to the countries concerned. 



1. Abrus PRECATORius,Zmw., B. FL, ii., 270. Syn.: A.pauciflorus, 



Desv. ; A. squamulosus, E. Mey. N.O. Leguminosse. The 

 pretty little red seeds with black spots are called " Crabs' 

 Eyes," and " Jequirity Seeds." Found in Queensland and 

 Northern Australia. 



This plant is not sufficiently abundant in Australia to affect 

 stock to an appreciable extent, but it is interesting to observe 

 that the Cattle Plague Commission of India (1877) in their 

 Report, mentioned that a large number of the criminal cases of 

 cattle-poisoning are effected through the agency of the seeds of 

 this plant. More extended enquiry showed that this practice 

 was common throughout the greater part of India. (Dymock.) 



2. Acacia aneura, and other species, F. v. M., B. Fl., ii., 402. 



N.O. Leguniinosse. " Mulga," forming the chief ingredients 

 of the scrub of that name. Found in all the Colonies except 

 Tasmania. 



The leaves are eaten by stock. In the Technological Museum 

 are samples of wool from sheep fed exclusively on this shrub on 

 a station in Western Queensland. The wool is not of the first 

 quality, as might be expected, but it is very good. The following 

 are some of the particulars of the wool : — 



Wool of ewe hoggets (under 10 months' growth), average length 

 of staple 2| inches. 



Wool of wether hoggets (12 months' growth), average length 

 of staple 4 inches. 



Wool of 4-tooth ewes (18 months' growth), length of staple 

 6J inches. 



