54 
MAGAZINE OF SCIENCE AND ART. 
Every one who has travelled much through Aus¬ 
tralian lands, must have observed hoiv rich and how 
varied are her natural grasses, and how those in one 
district differ from those in another. It is surely, 
then, reasonable to believe that some amongst them 
may be found po.-sessing all the requisite qualities 
for the purpose in vie*. And it behoves every true 
hearted Australian, who may have the opportunity, 
to let no chance escape him of turning to his 
country’s advantage any fact or quality lie may have 
observed in our native grasses, for heroin lies her 
greatest weakness, as does her greatest strength. 
Her greatest weakness, because unless her pastures 
be made more productive, her main resource-wool 
—must soon ceasu to increase from want ot toon tor 
her sheep. Her greatest strength, because the land 
already occnpied, if improved in productiveness, ns 
there are some and good reasons to think it may he, 
there would scarcely be a limit to the increaso of 
that commodity which has so long and so profitably 
been our staple export. And I am proud to Buy 
that bv means of the Horticultural Improvement 
Society an opportunity is now afforded to every one 
who may ho desire it to offer his mite for the general 
benefit of the country, and by whoso means the in¬ 
formation thus obtained will bo spread through the 
length and the breadth of tho land. . 
AVhilo I wish thus strongly to advocate the desir¬ 
ability of enquiring into tho capabilities of our 
native grasses, I do not desire to coniine out re¬ 
searches to those alone. A*o: I would ransack the 
world, from the backwoods, savannahs, and prairies 
of the North and South Americas to the steppes of 
Russia, and the plains of Egypt, China, and India, 
before I would disparingly submit to hear Australia 
proclaimed a barren desert, fit only for the habita¬ 
tion of Lhe wandering savage or the skulking dingo. 
But let us just look around and examine what na¬ 
ture has so liberally bestowed upon us. It Is our 
duty as Christians as well as citizens to make a 
proper uso of what lias been given to us, and in our 
case given with no niggard’s hand. Hero we have 
scarcely an indigenous noxious wood; the very burrs 
so muoh complained of by our woolgrowers, and 
spreading so rapidly over our plains and forests, 
are of foreign origin, and we are now suffering fur 
our own negligence and folly in at all permitting 
them to take root In tho land. But I trust a new 
and a better era is dawning upon us, and that we 
will no longer go on dreaming of nothing but the 
present, caring for nothing so long as our own turn 
is served, and instead of leaving our country for the 
next generation better than wo found it, as is our 
bounden duty, we are actually leaving it much worse. 
The subject is so suggestive of ideas, so pregnant 
of thought, that one finds himself astray for lan¬ 
guage to express them. A thought or an idea is 
often conceived, only to fly away into oblivion; 
others rush imo their place, only to follow, making 
one regret that some species of photography has not 
been discovered which could take impressions from 
mind as well as from matter. However as no such 
discover! - has yet appeared, we must content our¬ 
selves with the old plan of doing the best wo can 
without such assistance. 
But to proceed. Let us now suppose that we have 
succeeded in covering our hitherto almost barren 
plains with permanent grass, by whose means we are 
enabled to feed a vastly increased qmintny of stock 
within reach of water. The question now suggest- 
itself—What are we to do with tbo land where wa¬ 
ter is absent, which is the case with at least nineteen. 
twentieths of Central Australia, even after we havo 
so gre itly increased its capabilities as regards vege¬ 
tation? My answer is. get it. But how ? it will be 
• asked. By trying, will be my reply, 'the possibi¬ 
lity of procuring water by artificial means, at least 
in sufficient quantities for sheep, appears to nae to 
be undoubted. The country in question, as we have 
already seen, is composed almost uninterruptedly of 
level plains, seldom attaining an elevation of 500* 
feet abovo the level of the sea, and for the most part 
not more than half that elevation. From its Hat 
nature the water which falls upon it during heavy 
rains must havo some means to escape. Tho usual 
means, namely rivers and creeks, being here want¬ 
ing, cither evaporation or absorption must bo tho 
remedy. That so great a quantity of rain as some¬ 
times fall could be wholly exhausted by evaporation 
through the atmosphere, seems impossible. Absorp¬ 
tion, then, must be the main outlet for the super¬ 
abundant water; that such is tho case I see no reason 
todoubt. Iu fact, I have seen strongly flowingsl reams, 
whose course I havo traced for a few short miles, 
and found disappear as it were into tho bowels of the 
earth. For the most part tho nature of the soil in 
these parts is well calculated, from its porosi y, to 
absorb water readily. Again, this flatness of tho 
surface prevents the collection of water in dams, 
reservoirs, or tanks, which are undoubtedly the best 
plans for this purpose, whore the country is hilly, 
and tho soil of a clavey and compact nature. This 
not being the case, tho only means left to us for pro- 
ourin» that element, without which we can scarcely 
exist a single day, in this birthplace of tho hot 
winds, is sinking wells. And what I have said in 
reference to the mature of tho country affords ample 
proof of tho probability of securing an abundant 
snnnlv bv such operations. I will not pretend to 
say that, by sinking afew wells, water enough might 
1 bo procured to supply a herd of cattle; but l do 
think that the produce of one well would ho suffi¬ 
cient to furnish tho largest flock of sheep that can 
bo properly shepherded ; and what matter it it re- 
quired a dozen for this purpose, the expenditure 
would still return an abundant proht. That this 
idea has not long since occurred to, and been ear- 
ried out bv, some of our Squatter Kings, whose only 
oaro is to find fresh pastures for their constantly 
increasing flocks is, to say the least, very remark¬ 
able • but 1 suppose it arises from a common com¬ 
plaint, namely, unwillingness to depart from an 
established system from fear of being laughed at in 
caso of failure, &c. It is only a few days since, a 
very intelligent settler from tho northern districts 
told mo he was laughed at and called a madman by 
his squatting neighbours, for endeavouring to form 
reservoirs on some of his runs, which were badly 
supplied with water, and ridiouled when he recom¬ 
mended otbors to do likewise. I also havo Ire- 
quentlv been laughed at as a visionary for entertain- 
ineanil suggesting similar notions; and probably 
these remarks will be served in the same way, by 
those who are inclined to sneer at, and throw to the 
winds everything that is not ancient; but I feel 
sure that the operations of our Society will speedily 
remove the film of prejudice from the eyes ot suck 
obstructors of improvement: and then, perhaps, 
these very obstructionists will become in their turn 
improver's, and, in grateful remembrance of the 
benefits we have conferred upon thorn, come tor- 
ward with their experience and their purses, and 
assist us in our endeavours to promote the welfare 
of our country by assisting to increase and develope 
its resources. . . . 
Having now shown the moans by which tho ex¬ 
tensive tracts so poorly furnished with food and 
water may probably be supplied with both, I must 
leave detail until I again havo the pleasure of ad¬ 
dressing vou, when I will endeavour to point out 
some species of native grasses, winch would be 
likely to answer the end in view ; and also the best 
mode of proceeding with well-sinking. The other 
portions of my subject must also bo deferred until 
another opportunity, for I fear I have already drawn 
too largely upon your time. I will, therefore, con¬ 
clude by thanking you for your attention, which 
encourages me to proceed with the enquiry I have 
taken in hand; as yoor constant presence at our 
meetings will always be sure to encourage the 
efforts of all those who may have the privilege of meet- 
ing you here for the purpose of mutual instruction. 
