282 CHAPTER XVII 



The cultivated grasses of agricultural importance in South 

 Africa to-day are all indigenous to Africa, chiefly tropical Africa, 

 and all are exotic to the Union. It would seem, therefore, 

 that new grasses should be sought for, not only in the tropical 

 parts of Africa, but also in tropical parts of other countries. 



Cultural methods have a tremendously modifying effect 

 upon the environment, and it is possible that certain minor 

 grasses in the grass associations of the Union may be found to 

 be excellent under cultivation, i.e., when not in natural com- 

 petition with the dominant grasses. Most of the commonly 

 occumng grasses of the Union have frequently been tried, and 

 so far none has proved outstanding under culture. 



CLASSIFCATION ACCORDING TO USE. 



Hay Grasses. — Hay consists of the entire dried herbage 

 of comparatively fine stemmed grasses or other forage plants. 

 If properly treated, hay is not only grass that is dried, but in 

 which certain fermentative changes have taken place, i.e., 

 curing. Hay grasses are fine stemmed grasses making an 

 erect growth sufficient to enable cutting by mowers, e.g., Teff, 

 Sudan grass, Boer Manna, etc. 



Fodder Grasses are coarse stemmed grasses cut and dried 

 for stock feed, e.g., Napier grass. Maize, Saccharine Sorghums, 

 etc. 



Pasture Grasses are grasses grown principally for 

 grazing. These are usually decumbent perennials, having 

 adventitious roots or rhizomes, e.g., Kikuyu grass and 

 Paspalum dilatatum. Grasses are particularly adapted for 

 grazing in that the growing portion is not terminal as in 

 shrubs, but near the base of the grass leaf ; consequently the 

 grass is not injured by having the upper portions of the leaves 

 eaten or cut off. 



Soiling Grasses are grasses which are cut and fed green 

 to animals off the field on which they have grown, e.g., Phalaris 

 bulbosa and New Zealand tall fescue. 



Lawn Grasses. — A good lawn grass should propagate by 

 adventitious roots or rhizomes, should be fine and soft in 

 texture, dark green colour, aggressive with vigorous decumbent 

 growth, and perennial, e.g., Bermuda grass and Kikuyu. 



Soil-Binding Grasses. — These are perennials, more 

 commonly those having adventitious roots or rhizomes, e.g., 

 Beach grass (Ammophila grenaria). 



