in Extra- Tropical Countries. 247 



The Brahmins hold it in higher esteem than any other grain (Dr. 

 Ainslie) ; called in many places " Hungarian Millet." P. German- 

 icum (Roth) is a form of this species. Allied is also the West- 

 Indian Panicum (Setaria) magnum (Grisebach), which attains a 

 height of 10 feet on margins of lagoons; and Pauicum macrostachyum 

 (Nees) of East-Australia, South-Asia and tropical America, the 

 latter highly praised by Mr. R. L. Holmes in Fiji and by Prof. 

 Hieronymus in Argentina. 



Panicum Koenigii, Sprengel. (P. Helopus, Trin.) 



Tropical and sub-tropical Africa, Asia and Australia. A good 

 fodder- grass. 



Panicum latissimum, Mikan. 



Brazil. A highly ornamental grass. Leaves extremely broad, 

 but hard; panicle very rich. 



Panicum maximum, Jacquin.* (P. Jumentorum, Persoon.) 



The Guinea-grass. Tropical Africa; elsewhere not indigenous. 

 This perennial grass attains a height of 8 feet. It is highly nutritious 

 and quite adapted for the warmer temperate zone, being hardy as far 

 south as Buenos Ayres. In Jamaica it is the principal fodder-grass 

 up to elevations of 5,000 feet, springing up over wide tracts of country 

 almost to the exclusion of everything else. It forms large bunches, 

 which when cut young supply a particularly sweet and tender hay; 

 throws out numerous stolons; can be mown every six weeks; the 

 roots can be protected in the ground against light frosts by a thin 

 covering with soil. A favorite grass in tropical countries for stall- 

 fodder. It is necessary, to guard against over-feeding with this grass 

 solely. Succeeds even on poor clay-soil and on sea-sand. P. bulb- 

 osum (Kunth) is a more hardy grass of the southern parts of North- 

 America, regarded as a variety by General Munro, but remarkable 

 for its thickly enlarged roots. 



Panicum melanthum, F. v. Mueller. 



Eastern Australia. A valuable perennial grass for pastoral purposes 

 (Bailey). 



Panicum miliaceum, Linne".* (P. miliare, Lam.) 



The true "Millet." South-Europe, North- Africa, South-Asia, 

 ascending the Himalayas to 11,000 feet, North- Australia. Cultivated 

 in Southern Europe as early as the times of Hippocrates and Theo- 

 phrastus; in Egypt prior to historic records, and in Switzerland during 

 the stone-age. Annual, attaining a height of 4 feet. Several varieties 

 occur, one with black grains. They all need a rich and friable soil, 

 also humidity. Maturation very quick. It is one of the best of all 

 grains for poultry, but furnishes also a palatable and nutritious table- 

 food. It ripens even in Christiania (Schuebeler). In mild countries 

 as much as 70 bushels of seeds have been harvested from an acre of 

 land well cultivated with this grass (Ch. Flint). 



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