100 I'AKMKK'H BOOK OF Git ASSES 



tropical grass originally from Africa, it is now grown largely in 

 the East and West Indies. In Jamaica it is held next to su- 

 gar in value of crop, a single farmer producing five thousand 

 dollars worth per annum of the hay. Propagated to any de- 

 sired extent by rapid increase of tillers it is esteemed in Florida 

 and other parts of the south as a first class forage plant. Cat- 

 tle eat it with avidity, green or dry. 



Mr. C. Codrington, a former resident of the island of Jamai- 

 ca, settled some ten years ago in Florida. Finding the condi- 

 tions adapted to the growth of Guinea grass, he ordered seeds 

 from Jamaica and planted in 1872. Other persons also in oth- 

 er States had obtained seeds and roots from the same source at 

 various times for fifty years previous to his coming to Florida. 

 But the earlier plantings had finally disappeared. Others since 

 Mr. C. have also imported seed. Mr. C. says he never saw 

 working mules get grain of any kind in Jamaica; and if offered 

 to them they refused to eat it although hard worked, and fed on 

 Guinea grass only. 



Mr. James Johnson of Mullet Creek, Florida, received seed 

 from Jamaica and says : "It is a coarse grass, and very sweet. 

 My cattle and horses feed upon it with great avidity, preferring 

 it to all and every other grass, and it certainly makes a rich 

 and nutritious pasture. With this grass I believe Florida, with 

 its mild and pleasant climate, might be made one of the finest 

 grazing States in the union." Much more testimony ot the 

 same character could be adduced. This grass revolutionized 

 farming^ in Jamaica; districts, barren and not susceptible of 

 cultivation previous to the accidental introduction of this grass, 

 because the most profitable parts of the island, producing as- 

 tonishing numbers of fine live stock for home use and for 

 export. 



This grass need cause no anxiety in regard to its introduction. 

 It has not the cane-like roots of the Johnson grass and is easily 

 exterminated. In fact it requires some care to a^oid losing it 

 outside the tropics, as the experience of many persons has 

 proved in our southern States. Yet it is worthy of trial on a 

 large scale on our poorer sandy lands in the southern districts of 

 the gulf States. It tillers so rapidly and abundantly that each 

 plant may be separated into many parts a number of times 

 each year sometimes a single root will supply over fifty new 

 plants at one time. 



21. P. MILJ.ACEUM, Common Millet. 



This is the 'common millet/ 'cultivated millet/ 'millet com- 

 mun ? of authors. The genus, as shown under the head The 

 Millets, has been cultivated from very early times, (being the 

 dochan of Ezekiel,) in all the countries from Southern India to 

 Central Europe : and later in Western Europe. It was brought 

 from India .to England in 1596, and has been long known to a 



