54 GUINEA GRASS : ITS HISTORY, ETC., 



After each cutting it is a good plan to move the soil between 

 the roots ; and, as the plant takes a great deal out of the soil, it 

 pays to manure between the rows every three or four cuttings. 



Edwards in his History of the British West Indies, writing 

 nearly ninety years ago, thus speaks of the Guinea Grass : — 

 " This grass may be considered as next to the sugar-cane in point 

 of importance, as most of the grazing and breeding farms 

 throughout Jamaica were originally created, and are still sup- 

 ported, chiefly by means of this valuable herbage. Hence the 

 plenty of horned cattle, both for the butcher and planter is such 

 that few markets in Europe furnish beef at a cheaper rate or of 

 better quality than those of Jamaica. Perhaps the settlement 

 of most of the North side parishes is wholly owing to the intro- 

 duction of this excellent grass, which bestows verdure and 

 fertility on lands which otherwise would not be worth cultiva- 

 tion." 



The performances of the plant in the East Indies and Ceylon 

 are as satisfactory as in the West Indies. Baron Mueller states 

 it to be the best fodder plant raised on the plains of India ; and 

 Balfour in his Cyclopoedia of India gives the following instance 

 of what is accomplished with it in Ceylon: — "A small patch 

 near Colombo, which beginning with three quarters of an acre 

 was gradually extended to an acre and a half, for seven or eight 

 years supplied three or four milch cows, and from five to seven 

 horses, continually with all the grass required for their consump- 

 tion, and latterly left a surplus which was dried for bedding 

 and hay." 



A contributor to the transactions of the Agri-Horticultural 

 Society of India speaks of it in the following enthusiastic 

 ierms : — " The value of the grass for cattle is very great, and 

 for milch cows there is nothing equal to it. In my own family 

 the want of Guinea Gi'ass is always discovered by the inferiority 

 of the butter." 



The grass may be grazed every six or eight weeks, if carefully 

 shut oft m the intervening time, and the stock are not allowed 

 to eat it too low ; and, if kept solely for pasturage, it will 

 maintain itself for many years, unless the land is very poor. 



