222 SELECT PLANTS FOR INDUSTRIAL CULTURE 



that of some varieties can also be utilized as millet. Considered by 

 many a delicious grain for cakes and porridge. The Brahmins hold 

 it in higher esteem than any other grain (Dr. Ainslie). G. Per- 

 manicum, Roth., is a form of this species. Allied is also the West 

 Indian Setaria magna (Grisebach), which attains a height of 10 

 feet on margins of lagoons, and Panicum macrostachyum (Nees) of 

 East Australia, South Asia, and Tropical America. 



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

 India. 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 nutri- 

 tious and quite adapted for the warmer temperate zone, hardly 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, 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 favourite 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. 



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



The true Millet. South Asia, ascending the Himalayas to 11,000 

 feet, North Australia, but cultivated in Southern Europe so early 

 as Hippocrates' and Theophrastos' time. Annual, attaining a height 

 of 4 feet. Several varieties occur, one with black grains. They 

 all need a rich but friable soil. It is one of the best of all grains 

 for poultry, but furnishes also a palatable and nutritious table food. 

 It ripens still in Middle Europe. 



Panicum molle, Swartz.* (P. sarmentosum, Roxburgh.) 



Warmer parts of America, Africa, and Asia. The Para Grass. A 

 perennial, very fattening pasture grass, of luxuriant growth, attain- 

 ing a height of 6 feet (Grisebach). It is hardy at the Cape of 

 Good Hope, 



