Volume 01: Production and resources of the northern and western districts of New South Wales, 1854 [ca. 1850-1857] - Page 62
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56
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LIVERPOOL PLAINS DISTRICT
altered to the "dry way" in Comparison of what they were antecedent to that eventful period. Without Stopping to enquire about these changes, Mr Colonial experience Must admit that Sheep runs have effected greta alterations on the face of Mother Earth, and pretty nearly Swept the grasses clean out of Sight, in the Space of twenty years from many a luxuriant and lovely spot - Nature exerted herself to the utmost, till overpowered by the multitude of nibblers her grasses never allowed to rise into Seed Stalks for the purposes of reproduction - the very roots torn out & eaten, at last She retired exhausted from the contest, Crying I can do no more Now, Man Must, or Suffer by his rapacity & negligence. Hence even Darling Downs are becoming deserted in Some measure, for the Boyne, the Balanne etc & by & bye the moon will be wanted for fresh room to enterprising Squatters, Now to remedy in Some degree the deficiencies, every holder of a run ought to do a little for the benefit of his Stock & grazing. As "two removes are as bad as fire" a few pounds worth of trifolium repeno ( white clover) Sown every year where most wanted would not only be a profitable investment, but a new Variety, also of great Value to Sheep, Cattle, or horses, & it will thrive in every free open soil. Then you can have the Festuca ovind (Sheeps fesine), which will grow on the dryest ridges, possess a fine foilage, & is well adapted to the Masticating [?] of Sheep. In Britain it is inferior to none for pasturage to the fleecy flocks, and can be [?] in London & edinburgh at a cheap rate. A few pounds laid out annually on these, or such like, would repay a hundred fold the expense & trouble, two dreadful bugbears to Australian Settlers. All kinds of stock relish both these grasses; both delight in dry Shallow Soils, the time also of their flowering is different, which is of no inconsiderable advantage by having a fresh bite somewhere - Regarding the native grasses, although instituting experiments with Several of these Colonial experience is yet awaiting for enabling the writer to form a correct idia of their Characters - Some of their seeds are difficult to manage, while one or two varieties, esteemed the best, have seeds not dissimilar to trifolium repeno, and might easily be introduced into agricultural or pastoral economies. At any [?] they are worth trial, - and the man who succeeds will Confer a benefit on his Country and do honour to himself, as well as derive Substantial advantages to himself from his Skill & perseverance, undeterred by the raw head and bloody bones of a little expense & some trouble - The Duke of Bedford, instituted a Set of experiments on 215 grasses which were Conducted by Mr Sinclair his Grace's gardener - These experiments gave the quantity and nutritive qualities of all these different plants, furnishing at once a knowledge