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It is hereby notified that all matter contained in the Agricultural Gazette of New South Wales is protected by copyright. Newspapers desirous of republishing any articles may do so, and are merely required to make the usual acknowledgment.

4th June, 1894.

Useful Australian Plants.

No. 22. EVERGREEN MILLET (Sorghum halepense, Pers.).

Previous References, 1892, pages 241, 863.

By J. H. MAIDEN,
Consulting Botanist.

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Vernacular Names.-" Evergreen Millet" is a name in use in the Sydney market (also in California), while Johnson Grass is the most widely-used name given to it in the United States. It is a much-named grass. regards the names "Aleppo Grass," and "Johnson Grass," neither the former, after a place in Asia Minor, nor the latter, after the name of a gentleman who introduced its cultivation from one part of the United States to another (South Carolina to Alabama), would seem to be a suitable name for an Australian grass. A. A. Crozier, of Michigan, U.S.A., in his monograph on millets, gives the following common names:-Australian Millet, Morocco millet, Arabia Millet, Arabian Millet Grass, Arabian Evergreen Millet, Mears' Grass, Guinea Grass (erroneously), False Guinea Grass, Egyptian Grass, Egyptian Millet, Green Valley Grass, Cuba Grass, Alabama Guinea Grass, Syrian Grass, St. Mary's Grass.

Botanical Name.-Sorghum, stated by some to be derived from an Indian word for a grain belonging to this genus; but I cannot trace, with certainty, the Indian word. Halepensis, Aleppo (adjectival form).

Synonym.-Andropogon halepensis Sibth.

Botanical Description, (Flora Australiensis, vii, 540).-Stems erect, varying from 2 or 3, to 8 or 10 feet high, the nodes glabrous.

Leaves long and flat, often rather broad, the midrib usually white and prominent.
Panicle from 3 or 4 inches to above 1 foot long, loose and often much branched.
Fertile spikelets lanceolate, varying from 2 to above 3 lines long, pale-coloured or
scarcely purple, not rufous, with a few hairs at the base.

Outer coriaceous glume faintly many-nerved, at length smooth and shining.
Second glume rather sinaller, five-nerved, usually sprinkled with a few hairs.
Terminal glume hyaline, broad, ciliate, two-lobed, the awn from the notch very fine
and short, rarely nearly twice as long as the spikelet.

Mr. W. H. Walker, of Tenterfield, who has made many experiments in the cultivation of both indigenous and introduced grasses, writes that he is sending down 10 lb. of seed of this grass to his Winton Station, 30 miles below Goondiwindi, and is having a small paddock ploughed for it. He adds that it seems to grow well at Goondiwindi, and gives green feed for horses and cattle when other grasses have little growth in them.

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Value as a fodder. It is best known as a fodder-grass in the United States, and as regards experience in that country, we cannot do better than quote Vasey. This grass is best adapted to warm climates, and has proved most valuable on warm, dry soils in the southern states. Its chief value is for hay, in regions where other grasses fail on account of drought. If cut early the hay is of good quality, and several cuttings may be made in the season, but if the cutting is delayed until the stalks are well grown, the hay is so coarse and hard that stock do not eat it readily. The seed may be sown at any time when the soil is warm and not too dry. Failures often occur from sowing the seed too early. If there is danger that the soil should dry out before the seed can germinate, soaking the seed may be resorted to with good results. Thick seeding gives a heavier yield, and a better quality of hay. From 1 to 2 bushels are usually sown per acre, according to the quality of the seed. In case of failure to get a good stand, the crop may be allowed to go to seed the first year, after which the vacant spaces will be found to be self seeded. On small patches, in such cases, the ground is sometimes ploughed up, and the underground stems scattered along the furrows over the vacant spots. In most localities it is generally considered desirable to plough the land about every third year, otherwise the root-stocks become matted near the surface, and the crop is more affected by drought. Ploughing causes it to grow more thickly and vigorously."

In another work, "Report on the Grasses of the South," Dr. Vasey further says:-" Mr. N. B. Moore has cultivated this grass for forty years, and prefers it to all others. It is perennial, as nutritious as any other, difficult to eradicate, will grow on ordinary soil, and yields abundantly."

"Horses and cattle are fond of it both in its dry and green condition. Probably no grass gives better promise for the dry arid lands of the west."

'In California it is known as Evergreen or Arabian Millet. It roots deep in the sub-soil, and where that is at all alkaline, it grows enormously; but at the same time absorbs so much of the unpalatable alkali that stock will not eat it. It is excellent for dry hills, free from alkali.”

It is common all over Northern India, in cultivated and uncultivated ground, and is considered to be a good fodder grass both for grazing and hay.

The Department of Agriculture of Victoria distributed some of the seed of this grass to farmers in 1888, and following are extracts from the circular issued at the time:-"Superior both as a grazing and hay grass; has abundance of roots, which decay, thereby enriching the ground rather than exhausting it. The best results follow sowing the seed in August and September, enabling the seed to get a good root by the autumn, and forming a better turf the following season. Sow broadcast at the rate of a bushel an acre, and cover with a light brush, or sow just before a heavy rain. Three good crops the following season will be the result if the season is favourable."

Baron von Mueller quotes J. L. Dow, of Victoria, as stating that it keeps green in the heat of summer; also, Mr. Hollingsworth, that it is not eaten out by pasture animals. The Baron adds, "It will also grow in drift sand of the coast, and will keep growing during the dry season, when most other grasses fail, but improves much on irrigation; the roots resist some frost; three tons can be cut from one acre in a single season; it yields so large a hay-crop, that it may be cut half a dozen times in a season, provided the land be rich. All kinds of stock have a predilection for this grass.'

Objections to this grass.-"The greatest objection to this grass is the difficulty of eradicating it. Care should be taken not to introduce it into fields intended for cultivation. It spreads rapidly, both by root and seed, and it is apt to enter fields where it is not wanted. The grass is not well adapted to pasture, and close pasturing is one of the means of getting rid of it. Its succulent subterranean stems are usually well liked by hogs after they have become accustomed to them, and by keeping hogs closely confined on it it may be eradicated. There has been much discussion in the papers of the Southern United States as to this grass, some considering it a great blessing, others a curse, the fact being that it is a blessing where a permanent grass is desired, and a great pest in land intended for general cultivation." (Vasey).

Duthie points out that various reports indicate its injurious effects on cattle if eaten when too young, or when the plants are stunted by drought. He adds that the same results have been observed to take place in the case of Sorghum vulgare. Dr. Stewart was told in Hazara that cattle, after eating it, are often attacked by fatal head affections. In other districts it is said to be poisonous until the rains are over, when cattle eat it with impunity.

A gentleman in the Inverell district wrote to the Department some time ago asking for directions how to eradicate it, and there is no doubt it may become a pest in cultivated ground. I only bring it again under notice at the present time because I think it is not as generally known as it should be, and if it escapes into cultivated ground, if pigs be carefully enclosed, they will eradicate it. That it is poisonous in the ordinary sense I do not believe, but I have seen it so rampant and succulent, that I can readily understand that stock, unused to it, might do themselves injury by gorging themselves with it.

Other uses.-Duthie says that the seed of this grass is collected in Bikanir, India, ground and mixed with the flour of Pennisetum typhoideum, and eaten by the poorer classes. He also states that native pens are made from the stems.

Habitat and Range.-This is a truly Australian grass, being indigenous to Western Australia, New South Wales, and Queensland. In our own Colony it is found as far west as New England. It also occurs in the Pacific Islands, the countries around the Mediterranean, and is largely distributed in Asia. It is not a native of America, although it is so much cultivated in the United States, from which country most of the seed sent out by seedsmen has been originally obtained. I doubt whether any seed is collected from the indigenous New South Wales grass, which appears to be confined to the coast districts.

Most of the remarks which have been made in regard to this grass have been based upon non-Australian forms of it, and I trust that it will be thoroughly tried in the arid regions of the west. I fancy it has been tried in the vicinity of the artesian bores; but, if not, it would appear to be of singular promise for such situations. It flourishes in alkaline soils, and it could readily be ascertained in what localities it takes up so much alkali as to be distasteful to stock.

In experimenting with such a grass as this in arid places, disappointment might at first result through seed being used which was raised in the moist coast lands of Australia, or any other country; but, with care, droughtresistant seed might be saved in a very few seasons. It bears such a good reputation for droughty localities, that it is worth taking some pains over.

This grass (imported seed) has been introduced into New South Wales for many years, although, as already remarked, it is far from being generally known even yet. A few years ago, the late Rev. Dr. Woolls (who lived at one time near the Hawkesbury), stated that the settlers in that district looked upon it as a recent importation, and that the seed had been distributed under the name of Panicum spectabile, quite a different grass.

At the present time the catalogues of most of our leading seedsmen offer it, so that good seed is readily available. I am most anxious to see it thoroughly tried in the dry, warm, western parts of the Colony. I have noted all the warnings that can be given in regard to the grass; but its good qualities far outweigh any possible bad ones, and I would again submit it to careful attention.

Reference to plate :-(A), Portion of panicle; (B), Showing female spikelet, and cne male (stalked) spikelet. A second male spikelet has been broken off where shown; (c), Female spikelet opened out, showing awn and three glumes.