18 



fetched a considerably higher price, but since then the supplies have 

 materially increased. The principal points however to impress upon 

 shippers from Jamaica is that nuts should be prepared in such a way 

 that they may arrive here absolutely sound. 



Mr. J. R. Jackson reports as follows in a late number of the " Agri- 

 cultural News" : — 



Of Kola Nuts at the iirst sale six barrels fresh Grenada sold at l^d. 

 per lb ,' fair, washed' West Indian realizing 3|d., and at the second 

 Bale 21 barrels of West Indian were disposed of at 3^d. to 3Jd. for 

 good quality, and l|d. for ' wormy' 



ELEMENTARY NOTES ON JAMAICA PLANTS, VI. 



8— Grasses. 



By the Editor. 



Guinea Grass. 



Cut across a stem of Guinea Grass. Note where it is cut that tho 

 outline is rounded. The stems of all grasses, when cut through, have 



19 



a more or less rounded outline, whereas many sedges, — grass-like 

 plants growing on swampy sour soil, have a triangular section. 



The leaf is composed of two parts, the lower part forming a sheath 

 round the stem or culm ; the upper part the blade, is very long and 

 narrow, with veins running parallel to one another. The margins of 

 the leaf-blade have a saw-like edge with minute sharp teeth pointing 

 upwards ; the surfaces also are rough with points all going in the 

 some direction. Between the blade and the sheath, on the in>ide, is a 

 projecting rim which exists more or less in all grasses ; it is called 

 the ligule, and its probable use is to assist the sheath in protecting the 

 tender stem. When the ligule is hairy, as it is here, it more easily 

 prevents rain from soaking down between the sheath and the culm. 

 The sheath is hairy, and it is split, one edge overlapping the other. 



Cut across where the young leaves are wrapped round and it will 

 be seen that one hilf the blade is rolled round the culm, and that the 

 other half encircles it again. This method of folding of the young 

 leaf is spoken of as convolute. 



Pull off the leaves with their sheaths, and notice that at intervals 

 along the culm there are thicker portions, — the nodes (which are 

 hairy), dividing the culm into joints or internodes. 



Notice how this grass grows in tufts. Dig up a tuft, wash away the 

 soil, and see how the buds sprout from below the base and then grow 

 upwards. This shows how the tufts are formed, and how it is possi- 

 ble for it to spring up amongst bush. 



The roots are thin, fibrous, and branching, spreading in every di- 

 rection all round. 



Cut off the flowering part, any loose branching inflorescence of this 

 kind is called a panicle. The panicle in Guinea Grass is large, with 

 the lower branches whorled. 



Break off a spikelet, one of the seed-like bodies, like fig. C. 1. in 

 Plate 8, and dissect it under a lens with needles. Note the stalk of 



