An Anti-Pest Grass

A grass which is said to drive away mosquitoes, ticks, and snakes, aroused scientific interest in America lately.

Dr. Thomas Henry, science editor of the North American Newspaper Alliance, visualised thousands of square miles of tropical country being opened to settle ment, because the grass ousts these three white man’s burdens. English doctors “discovered” the grass in Caracas, Venezuela, and supplied the Venezuelan Government with large quantities of seed.

The Pan-American Sanitary Bureau stated that an analysis shows the grass —a species of melinis multiflora —to be a very rich pasture for horses, cows, and mules, but probably unsuitable for sheep.

But the N.S.Wales Government Agros tologist (Mr. Whittet), when interviewed by a Sydney “Sun” reporter, said he knew what the grass was and he did not think much of it. Melinis multiflora, a melli fluous name for cattle feed, has been known in Australia for 50 years, Mr.

Whittet explained. It had been grown to some extent in Queensland, and on the north coast of New South Wales. But the first essential of a grass was to be palatable to the consumer, and to Aus tralian cattle, it was as nearly repugnant as to ticks.

“The grass,” added Mr. Whittet, “is un popular among cattle because of its sticky nature. They prefer the naturalised pas tures. That story about ticks goes back to the ‘dark ages’, but I am not qualified to say if it is also taboo to snakes and mosquitoes. I can only tell you about the qualities of the grass.”

Mr. R. A. Vivian, a well known Resi dent Magistrate of Papua, recently sta tioned at Kerema, has arrived in Aus tralia, on furlough.

Mr. B. G. Johnston, of Itikinumu, Sogeri district, Papua, who recently left for Australia, has been called up for ser vice in the Empire air plan.

Mr. R. N. Stevens, recently attached to the Government Stores Department, Port Moresby, and who enlisted in the Air Force has, according to reports, recently passed all tests and is now Leading Air craftsman, and declared fit for service overseas.

Mr. A. J. Tritton, of the Commonwealth Bank staff, has been transferred from one of the NSW branches to relieve Mr. H.

Kinghorn at Rabaul, New Guinea, while the latter is on leave.