164 THE CHIEF SOUTHERN AGRICULTURAL CROPS 



than Guinea grass, and will endure submergence for 

 quite long periods. It is eaten greedily by stock and 

 yields an immense amount of pasturage, especially 

 on wet, swampy lands. When the land is plowed, 

 each buried stalk grows, sending up new shoots from 

 the joints like a gigantic quack grass. This makes 

 it very difficult to subdue, though it can be killed by 

 repeated plowing during dry weather. It was intro- 

 duced into Cuba as a pasture grass, but has become a 

 great scourge in the cane fields, especially on the low, 

 black lands. Like Guinea grass it does not endure 

 cold. 



Water Grass (^Paspalum dilataturri). — This is a 

 native of the Southern states. It forms clumps, 



/)^ usually in creek bottoms and 

 other wet places, but will 

 grow well on any ordinary 

 farm land. It is much rel- 

 ished by live stock and fur- 

 nishes a large amount of 

 pasturage for a very long 

 season. 



It grows tall enough to 

 make a large yield when 

 cut for hay. It is one of the 

 most valuable of the native 

 Southern grasses, and de- 

 serves to be much more 

 widely planted. It is some- 

 Water Grass, times difficult to secure 

 good seed, as it is often attacked by a fungus. 

 Carpet Grass (^Paspalum compressum) . — This 



