PRAIRIE GRASS 
Fodder. 
Prairie Grass (Bromus unioloides), 
This is one of the most valuable peren- 
nial grasses of our cooler districts. It 
was introduced in the early days of the 
colony, and is to be found growing wild 
in many districts. It is a very nutritious 
grass, produces a great amount cf feed, 
coming away early in the winter, except 
in the coldest districts. It stands well 
into the dry weather, making fresh growth 
after rain. The plant makes tussocks of 
considerable size. Many farmers have the 
objection to Prairie Grass that it does not 
stand grazing. “ Stock eat it out and de- 
stroy it, while other grasses persist,” is a 
frequent remark. This, however, is due 
to the fact that stock are remarkably fond 
of it, and will eat it right into the ground, 
even when there is plenty of other grass 
in the paddock. It is usually the inferior 
grasses that are left. thus giving the ordi- 
nary observer the idea that these grasses 
are hardier than those eaten out by stock. 
It would pay most of our stock-owners in 
the cooler districts to grow a few acres of 
prairie grass, but judgment must be used 
in feeding it off. Stock should be re- 
moved as soon as the grass is eaten fairly 
down, and the paddock spelled for a short 
period. This could be best achieved by 
dividing the area into three or more 
blocks, aecording to the size, and feeding 
them down in rotatian. 
Golden Crown Grass (Paspalum 
dilatatum). 
Probably no other grass has had so 
much written about it during the past 
five or six years as this, It is a perennial 
grass, very hardy in so far as heat 1s con- 
cerned, but liable to injury by severe frost. 
The herbage is much relished by stock of 
all descriptions, and is very nutritious. 
In the moist districts of Victoria and In 
New South Wales and Queensland suc. 
cessive crops of feed are obtained through: 
out the summer, and it is generally agreed 
that the carrying capacity of the land 
has been greatly increased where Pas- 
palum is grown. It has been invaluable 
to many dairymen. In South Australia, 
however, the results have been nothing 
like those secured in the Eastern States. 
THE AUSTRALIAN GARDENER. 
SS eee ee cE 
Even under moderate irrigation it has 
not done as well as expected, and the 
writer, who has experimented with it on 
a small scale for the pas: eight years, is 
of opinion that the dryness «f our atmos- 
phere during the summer months is 
largely the cause. Grown with a 25 inch 
rainfall, without irrigation, alongside 
lucerne, it has produced more herbage in 
the late autumn, when we have had good 
early rains, and also in the spring, but 
the lucerne has made more growth during 
the summer. When irrigated during No- 
vember and December it has been cut 
three or four times, but has given no 
more bulk than irrigated lucerne, if as 
much, On the banks of watercourses it 
makes a very useful plant, and it will 
grow where several inches of water is 
running oyer it for several months. 
Veldt Grass (Oryzopsis milaceum). 
Jt is deserving of attention on account 
of.its hardiness and the amount of fodder 
it produces. It has been sold as Pipta- 
therum Thomasi, and is also known under 
such names ss “Falling Awn Grass,” 
‘Millet Grass,” “Veldt Grass,” etc. 
Specimens snbmitted to Mr J. H. Maiden, 
F.L.S., Botanist to the New South Wales 
Department of Agriculture, have, how- 
ever, been identified as Oryzopsis milia- 
ceum, some of the synonyms of which are 
Milium multiflorum, Piptatherum milia- 
ceum, P. Thomasi, and P. multiflorum. 
Plants of this class are doing well at 
Roseworthy College on the light sandy 
soil, and are also thriving in other parts 
of the Lower North It isa very hardy 
perennial, and grows rapidly after the 
first rains, and keeps beautifully green 
until the hot weather sets in, when the 
leaves and stems become tough and dry. 
‘July 1, 1907 
Stock are very fond of this grass, eating 
even the old dry stems very readily. It is 
rather woody when mature, and not so 
nutritious as many other grasses, but 
owing to its hardy nature will thrive 
where the latter would fail. It seeds very 
freely, but when sown in the ordinary 
way germination is not as regular as 
might be expected. Under favorable con- 
ditions it makes large tussocks several 
feet in height in a few months. 
Wetcuts and Muasuers.—Two table- 
spoonsful liquid equal loz. One table- 
spoonful salt equals loz. One heaping 
tablespoonful brown or granulated sugar 
equals loz. Two tablespoonsful powdered 
sugar equal loz, One heaping tablespoon- 
ful sifted flour equals loz. Three table- 
spoonsful grated chocolate equal loz. 
Four tablespoonsfai liquid equal one 
wine-glass, ‘Two wine-glasses equal 1 gill. 
Twenty-five drops equal 1 teaspoonful. 
One quart wheat flour equals 1b. Ten 
ordinary eggs equal 1b. 
LRN LINE 
“ Australian 
Gardener ” Office, 
Send us along a trial order. 
Nerine Japonica (Japanese Spider Lily) 
See Page 5. 
