40 QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. [1 Jan., 1900 
browsing upon poisonous plants. Soon after leaving Springsure, the of 
crosses a plain four miles long, on which the grass and herbage, with # 
exception of Pimelea hematostachya, or Native Poppy, as it is called locally, 
been eaten out by the large mobs of cattle and sheep which have passed dur 
the last four months. The number of the latter was something like | 
since July last. q 
After this, scrubby, rising country, timbered with ironbark, scented gut 
&e., is entered upon, and continues to top of range, 11 miles from Springswt 
Along here and for some five miles aniiee the Zamia (AMacrozamia Moord 
grows abundantly, and we found it very much eaten down, and in the case 
young plants the crowns completely devoured. One can hardly imagine cat# 
eating the foliage of such a plant, but you will see by the accompanyl 
specimens that they do so. (Vide Plate CLXII.) \ 
Descending the range, the part called the “ Staircase” is reached. At 
foot we found a lot of Redhead (Asclepias curassavica) growing, which appeal 
to have been browsed upon; also young plants of the Fever-bark (A/stoml 
mollis), which is known by some as Peach-leaved Poison-bush. Zvrema aspett 
which also grows in the gullies about Springsure, is the plant commonly know 
by this name. ; 
From the Staircase to Orion Creek (11 miles) is scrubby ironbark atl 
wattle country, with undergrowth, principally young Sandalwood (Eremophit 
Mitchelii), with patches of Turkey-bush and Carissa ovata, but bare of sm a 
herbage. I did not notice that the last-mentioned plant, which is thorny, all 
according to Dr. T. L. Bancroft, possesses a poisonous principle, had bee 
browsed upon. At Orion Creek I noticed a few plants of Datura Leichhardt! 
(Native Thorn Apple). For three miles after Orion Creek is passed, 
country is furnished with good grass and an abundance of the Pimelea, which 
however, grows on all good black soil between Springsure and who 
Meteor Downs is then entered, and is thinly timbered for eight miles with op®! 
patches of downs. The only suspicious plant observed was the previous! 
mentioned Carissa, but this did not show signs of having been fed on. 
The road then runs through Albinia Downs, which is lightly timber! 
with stunted bloodwood, &c., for eight miles, or to within six miles of Rollestol 
when a large grass plain about four miles in extent is met with. Here, whi? 
is within a mile of Albinia Creek, a large quantity of Turkey-bush (JZyoportll 
deserti), with Native Fuchsia (Zremophila maculata), is growing on the right 
hand side of road. This runs from Meteor Creek (about one and a-half mile), 
but, until above locality is reached, it is away to the right of where the sto’ 
| 
travel. On this plain the Pimelea is again abundant, and we noticed, for ie 
first time, that the leaves had been eaten by sheep. This plant, according © 
Bailey and Gordon, in * Plants Reputed Poisonous to Stock,” is considered 4 
many as one of our worst poisonous herbs, and is credited with killing hundred 
of sheep. It is, however, stated that if the ears of a sheep poisoned by thi 
herb are slit before the poison has taken much effect upon the animal its | 
may be saved... On Albinia Downs we noticed plants of the Prickly Lettu 
(Lactuca scariola), a naturalised species which exudes a milky, narcotic juice 
and was at one time suspected of poisoning cows at Rosewood. I pointed ot! 
this plant, and recommended its destruction before it spreads any further. 1 
After Albinia Downs is left, swampy land, with tea-tree, coolibar, and © 
little undergrowth of lignum, prevails, until Rolleston is reached. _ 
At Albinia Creek, about six miles from Kolleston, I was shown a *p 
where thirty-five out of a mob of bullocks had died, and was informed othé 
deaths had occurred until past Rolleston. This would be about five day® 
journey (with cattle) from where we had noticed the Zamia so much eaten; ab 
as we could not find that cattle had eaten the other plants mentioned to aD) 
extent, I came to the conclusion that it (the Zamia) had been the cause, av 
from inquiries subsequently made, I have no doubt that such was the case. 
