161 



Palea nearly as long, faintly two-nerved. 



Grain broadly obovoid, the very thin pericarp sometimes appearing loose, though 

 often evanescent or undistinguishable in the dried state. 



Var. elongatus. Very like tlie type, but with narrower leaves, 

 longer and looser panicle, and not quite so tufty. 



Value as a fodder. — This tough grass has been known to pull the 

 teeth out of cattle and horses which feed on it as other grass becomes 

 scarce. When young it is often eaten with other pasture, but it soon 

 becomes fibrous. It is a coarse grass, seeds freely, and disfigures a 

 paddock or lawn of finer grasses. 



Mr. Thos. H. Kearney, jun., of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, 

 obligingly gave me the following note on this grass in the United 

 States : — ■ 



" Sporobolus indicus is not, to my knowledge, anywhere cultivated in 

 the States, though a farmer in Florida told me he intended to sow it 

 on his land. But it is held in high esteem in the South for pasturage, 

 especially for horses. It has the merit of growing readily on sandy 

 commons where few other grasses will thrive in that part of the 

 country. Here, as with you, it becomes very hard when old, and is 

 consequently unfit for hay. I should not think to recommend it for 

 cultivation anywhere, as it grows in clumps and makes no turf. 



" This grass is a native of India, but has spread over most tropical 

 and warm climates. It occurs more or less abundantly in all the 

 Southern States, and is called Smut-grass, from the fact that after the 

 flowering the heads become affected with a black smut. It grows in 

 tufts or loose patches, from 1^ to 3 feet high." 



Professor Phares says : " It grows abundantly and luxuriantly on 

 many uncultivated fields and commons, and furnishes grazing from 

 April till frost. It thrives under much grazing and many mowings, 

 and grows promptly after each if the soil is moist enough. Cattle and 

 horses are fond of it, if it is frequently cut or grazed down, but if 

 allowed to remain untouched long they will not eat it unless very 

 hungry, as it becomes tough and unpalatable and probably difficult to 

 digest." (Vasey.) 



In the Gujranwala district (Punjab) it is considered to be a good 

 fodder-grass, especially for horses. At Balaghat (Central Provinces) 

 it is used as fodder when young. (Duthie.) 



Other uses. — Used in the manufacture of hats in Madagascar. (Kew 

 Bulletin, 1890, 212.) " While the plant is not used industrially in 

 this country (United States), it is employed in southern Brazil as a 

 straw-plait material. The stalks from the flower to the last knot 

 serve for the manufacture of straw-plait used for hats and other 

 articles made of straw, which are softened by means of sulphur." 

 (Dodge.) The stalks are steeped several hours in water, when the 

 seeds are easily rubbed out, and then ground between two stones and 

 baked for bread by the Cloncurry, Queensland, natives. (E. Palmer.) 



Habitat and range. — Found in all the colonies except Tasmania. 

 In New South Wales it is found in the coast district, and rarely in the 

 high table-land. It is not truly indigenous in many of its present 

 localities. It is also found in Asia, Africa, America, and New Zealand. 



