843 



(Grant, I.e.). An analysis for fodder shows Water, 61-81 per 

 cent.; Ether Extract, 0-29; Protein (Nitrogen x 6-25), 2-92; 

 Carbohydrates, 17-29; Woody fibre, 14-77 and Ash, 2-92 per 

 cent. (Kew Bull. seq.). The stems have been examined at the 

 Imperial Institute with a view to use for paper-making. A^ con- 

 signment from Uganda of 177 lb. — ^described as bamboo-hJve 

 stems, measuring up to 11 ft. in length and about one inch in 

 diameter at the base — which after air-drying on receipt weighed 

 145 lb. Analysis showed Moisture on drjdng at 100°-110° C, 

 10-7 per cent.; Ash expressed on the dried material, 5-1; Un- 

 bleached pulp — expressed on material as received 23 • 9, on 

 air-dried material 29 and on material dried at 100°-110° C, 

 32 • 5 per cent. ; the pulp was of good colour and was composed of 

 ultimate fibres (0-05-0 -14 in., average 0-08 in.) rather longer 

 than those of ''esparto grass" (0'012-0-12 in., average 0-045) 

 and of about the same length as those of bamboo pulj) (0-024- 

 0-16 in., average 0*096 in.); it furnished a fairly good paper, 

 and the value in London (Feb. 1913) was estimated at approxi- 

 mately the same value as wood-pulp prepared by the soda 

 process, viz. £7 10^, 0^.-£8 125. 6d. per ton. Stems converted 

 into pulp by treatment \\dth caustic soda, in the country of origin 

 was suggested as the best condition in which to ship, as in com- 

 petition Mith "esparto grass" (Stipa tenacissima, Linn,), then 

 (Feb. 1913) at £3 7^. Gd, a ton, the shipment of stems would not 

 be profitable (Bull. Imp. Inst, 1913, p. 68). 



A perennial, with a creeping rhizomes, culms, 6-10 ft. some- 

 times up to 20 ft- or so, high, about |-1 in. thick at the base. 

 ?eeds do not appear to be easy of collection and propagation is 

 best effected by division of the roots. It growls quickly, stands 

 cutting weU and is perhaps more valuable as a soilage crop than 

 for pasture or hay; the sample of which an analysis is given 

 above was planted in March 1910 and cut July 1911 (no cutting 

 done meantime) when the length of stalk was 8 ft. and the 

 length of leaf 2 ft. ; but in practice 3 or 4 cuttings while the grass 

 is young and tender would* be possible in tlie same period. The 

 plant is reported to be a good drought resister; but seems to 

 find the best conditions of growth in moist or marshy land. In 

 Sokoto it has been collected in a field of cultivated millet or 



CI 



I 



«' -o,^ 



ro " {Pennisetum typhoideum) and said to be often planted 

 as a boundary; it also forms dense masses on the banks of the 

 Benue and Katsina rivers (Dalziel, Herb. Kew); plentiful on 

 the banks of the Ogun river, Lagos (MiUen, Herb. Kew) at 

 Ogurude, Cross River (Holland, Herb. Kev/), in Savannah 

 country. Gold Coast (Chipp, List Herbac. PL Gold Coast, p. 23); 

 forms extensive reed jungles in the delta of the Zambesi and 

 along the Shire river in East Africa and in general wherever it 

 is known, occurs mainly along w^ater-courses and in marshy 

 depressions, though also growing in bush and forest where open 

 spaces admit of sufficient Hght (Stapf, Kew Bull. 1912, p. 312), 



Eef. — " Elephant Grass {Pennisetum purpureum, Schum.). 

 A New Fodder Plant," Stapf, Kew BuU, 19.12, pp. 309^316.- — 



