BY L. A, BERNAYS. 53 



varying, according to the quality of the soil, from 18 to 24 

 inches apart. In rich soil there is nothing gained by crowding 

 the plants, which under favouring conditions soon approach each 

 other in every direction by forming stools. A final watering,, 

 unless the weather be moist, completes the operation and the 

 results are certain. The grass seeds freely, but the seed is 

 difficult to gather in quantity, owing to its disposition to scatter 

 at the early stage of maturity. If it is desired to plant from 

 seedlings, the seed should be raised in a specially prepared bed, 

 shaded from the hottest sun, sown broadcast, and pressed well 

 into the soil. If the bed when sown is covered with mats for a 

 few days without watering, unfailing success will result. When 

 the young plants are three inches high they can be carefully 

 transplanted, being watered occasionally until they have got 

 fair hold of the ground. Planting by this means is slower, and 

 I only recommend it where clumps lor subdivision are not 

 procurable. The best time for planting is spring. In addition 

 to preparation by seed and root division, the plnnt may be 

 grown from cuttings like sugar-cane — these root rapidly. 



For cutting as fodder, it should be taken when still young 

 and tender, a condition which obtains in slightly varying degree 

 until it begins to seed, when it becomes somewhat wiry and 

 there is waste in feeding it to stock ; but if allowed to reach 

 that state, it may still be used to advantage by passing through 

 a chaff-cutter. 



Under favouring conditions this grass is wonderfully produc-^ 

 tive. During the whole of the warmer months of the year it 

 can be cut over and over again, the number of times being 

 naturally dependent upon the moisture of the season, four and 

 five cuttings being not uncommon ; so that by proportioning the 

 area of your plantation to the number of animals to be fed, the- 

 top end may be ready for cutting again when the bottom is 

 reached. Lunan writing in 1814 and Dr. Schomburghk sixty 

 years later, both speau from personal experience in Jamaica of 

 the fattening property of Guinea Grass, whether as green fodder 

 or hay. In that c-limate one acre will keep two cows or a horse 

 throughout the year. 



