230 SELECT PLANTS FOR INDUSTRIAL CULTURE 



and is also valuable as green fodder. In the United States culti- 

 vated as far north as Pennsylvania. Its fast growth prevents weeds 

 from obtaining a footing. In very exceptional cases and under 

 most favourable circumstances as regards soil and manure, the 

 first cutting is there in six or seven weeks, then up to 7 feet 

 high, giving at the rate of 30 tons green feed or 6J tons of hay 

 per acre on well-manured soil ; in six or seven weeks more a second 

 cutting is obtained of 55 tons per acre of green feed, the grass being 

 then 9 feet high ; a third cut is got in the same season. Farm 

 stock eat it greedily. Some of the many other species of Pennisetum 

 are doubtless of value as pasture. A plant allied to P. thyphoideum 

 occurs in China, namely, P. cereale (Trin.). This also affords millet 

 or corn for cakes. 



Pentzia virgata, Lessing. 



South Africa. A small bush, recommended to be established in 

 deserts for sheep fodder. It has the peculiarity that whenever a 

 branch touches the ground, it strikes roots and forms a new plant ; 

 this enables the species to cover ground rapidly (Sir Samuel Wilson). 

 Several other species occur in South Africa. 



Periandra dulcis, Martius. 



Sub-tropical Brazil. The sweet root yields liquorice. 



Perilla arguta, Bentham. 



Japan. An annual herb. An infusion of this plant is used to 

 impart to table vegetables and other substances a deep-red colour. 

 In Japan its seeds are pressed for oil. P. ocimoides (L.), of Upper 

 India, serves probably similar purposes. Some species of Perilla 

 are suitable for ribbon-culture. 



Persea gratissima, Gaertner. 



From Mexico to Peru and Brazil in forest tracts near the coast. 

 The Avocado Pear. Suggestively mentioned here as likely avail- 

 able for mild localities, inasmuch as it has become naturalized in 

 Madeira, the Azores, and Canary Islands. A noble evergreen 

 spreading tree. The pulp of the large pear-shaped fruit is of deli- 

 cious taste and flavour. The fruit is sliced for salad. Its pulp 

 contains about 8 per cent, of greenish oil. 



Persea Teneriffse, F. v. Mueller. (P. Indica, Sprengel.) 



Madeira, Azores, and Canary Islands. This magnificent tree pro- 

 duces a beautiful, hard, mahogany-like wood, especially sought for 

 superior furniture and turners' work. One of the most hardy trees 

 of the large order of Laurinae. 



