112 Select Plants for Industrial Culture 



except two or three of the strongest are removed. Low-lying ground 

 and somewhat peaty soil are well adapted for this plant (Vilmorin). 



Cynodon Dactylon, Cl. Richard.* 



Widely dispersed over the warmer parts of the globe, thus as 

 indigenous reaching the northern parts of the colony of Victoria; 

 stretching also into Middle Europe and West-England. Hardy in 

 Norway to lat. 63 52' (Schuebeler). Passes under the names of 

 Bermuda-Grass, Indian Couch-Grass, Doab, Doorba or Doorva or 

 Bahama-Grass. An important grass for covering bare, barren land, 

 or binding drift-sand, or keeping together the soil of abrupt declivities, 

 or consolidating earth-banks against floods. It is not without value 

 as a pasture-grass; resists extreme drought, and may become of great 

 importance to many desert-tracts, as it keeps alive even in the hottest 

 and driest parts of Central Australia; also one of the best of all 

 grasses in tropical countries for hay (Eggers). Placed likewise above 

 all other grasses for pasture- and stable-value in Louisiana (Seiss). 

 Difficult to eradicate, but for permanent pastures on exhausted land 

 in mild climes not surpassed. The dispersion is best effected by the 

 creeping rooting stems cut into short pieces; each of these takes root 

 readily, but it can also be disseminated and grains are now always 

 in the seed-markets. In arable land this grass, when once established, 

 cannot easily be subdued. The stems and roots are used in Italy for 

 preparing the Mellago graminis. Roxburgh already declared this 

 grass to be by far the most common and useful for pastures of India, 

 particularly in the drier regions; that it flowers all the year, and that 

 it forms three-fourths of the food of the cows and horses there. 

 Excellent also as a lawn-grass in mild climates, on account of its 

 dwarf and creeping growth and as enduring trampling pertinaciously. 

 Chemical analysis, made very early in spring, gave the following 

 results: Albumen 1'60, gluten 6*45, starch 4'00, gum 3*10, sugar 

 3-60 per cent. (F. v. Mueller and L. Eummel). 



Cynosurus cristatus, Linn. 



The Crested Dogstail-Grass. Europe, Northern Africa, Western 

 Asia. A perennial grass, particularly valuable as withstanding 

 drought, the root penetrating to considerable depth. The stems can 

 also be used for bonnet-plaiting. Though inferior in value for hay, 

 this grass is well adapted for permanent pasture, as it forms dense 

 tufts without suffocating other grasses or fodder-herbs. Recommended 

 also as an admixture to lawn-grasses by Hein and others. 



Cyperus corymbosus, Rottboell. 



India, North-Australia, Madagascar. This stately perennial species 

 may be chosen to fringe our lakes and ponds. It is extensively used 

 for mats in India. 



Cyperus esculentus, Linn. 



Southern Europe, Western Asia, various parts of Africa. Produces 

 the "Chufa" or Ground-Almond, an edible root, which contains 





