23 



of seed has ripened. I have seen these suckers remain green for six or eight weeks 

 after the old stalks were as dead ami dry as hay, and then, when the old stalks had 

 fallen to the ground, take root and form new plants. It grows well on all kind> ..f 

 dry land. Plants two or three years old form stools 12 to 18 inches across. Th. 

 has very strong roots and grows in the longest drought almost as fast as when it 

 rains. 



(Plate 5.) 

 Paspalum platycaule. 



This has sometimes been called Louisiana grass. It occurs in all the 

 Gulf States and in the West Indies and South America. It grows flat 

 on the ground rooting, at every joint, and forming at the South a thick, 

 permanent, evergreen sod. It does well on almost any upland soil, 

 and is said to stand drought better than Bermuda grass. It usually 

 grows too short and close to the ground for hay, but for grazing it ap- 

 parently has many good properties. It may be distinguished from the 

 other Paspalums and from Bermuda grass by its flattened stems (whence 

 the name) and the very slender seed- stalks, each bearing only two or 

 three very narrow, somewhat upright spikes. The leaves, especially on 

 the long runners, are short and blunt. 



The facts of its being a perennial and seeding freely, of its doing 

 better than any other grass on poor soil, forming a compact tuft to the 

 exclusion of other plants, and of its being easily killed by cultivation, 

 will doubtless recommend it for more extended growth. 



Dr. Charles Mohr, Mobile, Ala., says : 



It has taken a firm foot-hold in this section. It is perfectly hardy, prefers damp 

 localities, and suffers somewhat from long droughts. It grows best in a sandy loam, 

 rather close, compact, and damp, in exposed situations, as it does not stand shade 

 well. It stands browsing and tramping well, and is greedily eaten by all kinds of 

 stock. Its vegetation begins earlier in spring than that of Bermuda. 



G. A. Frierson, Frierson's Mill, La., in the Southern Live Stock Jour- 

 nal, says : 



It grows everywhere in rather low, wet, clay lands, and stands grazing as well or 

 better than Bermuda. 



B. H. Brodnax, Morehouse Parish, La. : 



Paspalum platycaule was first noticed here about 1870 in very small patches. Since 

 then it has spread rapidly from seed. It is not cultivated. It stands frost very well 

 when firmly rooted, staying green nearly all winter, and it stands drought splendidly. 

 It grows best on a poor quality of land high above overflow, or where water could 

 not stand on it. It is a splendid pasture grass, making a sod equal to Bermuda, but 

 it is not cut for hay. It is very easily destroyed, one plowing being sufficient to kill it. 



Mr. Prentice Bailey, of Baker County, northern Florida, sends a 

 specimen of Paspalum platycaule for identification, and says of it: 



On all old roads, where travel has killed the other grasses and packed the soil, it 

 covers the ground with a close, even turf; it forms such a thick turf that it is called 

 here "blanket grass." The cattle in the woods are so fond of it and keep it eaten down 

 so close, that it is difficult to find any of it more than 2 or 3 inches in height, but on 



