Naturalisation in Extra-Tropical Countries. 191 



[Thos. Weir]. Best grown as green crop for stable-fodder; in 

 cool regions requiring to be resown annually from fresh seeds, 

 acquired from warm countries. This grass, particularly in its 

 young state, is remarkably saccharine. For scenic growth this 

 stately plant is also recommendable. Vilmorin estimates one plant 

 sufficient for feeding two head of cattle during twenty-four hours. 

 Mons. Thozet, at Rockhampton, obtained plants 12 feet high and 

 12 feet wide in damp alluvial soil, each with 32 main stalks bearing" 

 nearly 100 flower bunches. It is rather slower in growth than 

 Maize, but lasting longer for green fodder, and not so hardy as 

 Sorghum. It is essentially a .summer-grass. Its growth can be 

 continued by cutting the tufts as green fodder ; thus tender food is 

 continued ; it does not cause colic to horses and cattle. As a forage- 

 plant it is without a rival in warm climes. It can also be readily 

 dried for hay. It likes humid soil best, and resists intense heat. 

 It was first brought into notice by the Acclimatisation- Society of 

 Paris, and introduced into Australia and Polynesia by the writer. 

 In Fiji it is thriving most luxuriantly, forming, sown at 4 feet 

 apart, impenetrable masses. Requires humidity to come to its 

 greatest development. In tropical countries, when cut, it will 

 renew its growth [R. Parkinson], The Fiji-parrots prey on the 

 seeds, and horses are fond of this grass for forage [Sir John 

 Thurston] . Easily naturalized in tropical jungles to the particular 

 delight of parrots, cockatoos and many other birds. Grain greedily 

 picked up by fowls for food. On sugar-cane plantations of Queens- 

 land the horses preferred the Teosinte to young cane. After being- 

 cut for green feed, it "stools heavily and ratoons fast," and may be 

 cut every two months for a heavy crop [Bauer]. Seeded also at 

 the Great Bight [Brooks], Plants raised on the Murray and 

 Murrumbidgee produced over a hundred flower-stems [F. Rosan] 

 to the height of 10 feet, with leaves to 2 feet in length and 2J inches 

 in width [W. McG-an]. In cooler climes the Teosinte might well 

 serve for ensilage, or as a big summer-grass ; it lives in sheltered 

 places at Port Phillip. Each plant requires at least 16 square-feet 

 of ground for its full development. Even in regions, where the 

 seeds will not ripen, this huge grass should be annually resown on 

 pastures overrun with noxious weeds, which would soon become 

 suffocated. Fit for irrigation. Euchleena Mexicana might also be 

 tested. 



Euclea myrtina, Burchell. 



South-Africa. Berry small, black, edible. To us this plant 

 would hardly be more than an ornamental bush. 



Euclea Pseudebenus, E. Meyer. 



Africa, down to extra-tropic regions. Yields the Orange-River 

 Ebony. 



