FORAGE PLANTS— GUINEA GRASS. 131 



Those are both easily removed, and the seed usually- 

 offered in Great Britain and Ireland is clean and 

 merchantable. 



Guinea Grass. 



{Panicum jumentorum. ) 



We see this, and the two grasses which follow, some- 

 times referred to as strong growing grasses, giving a 

 heavy produce which might be suitable for ensilage. 

 The Guinea Grass is described by Dr. Vasey" as a large 

 vigorous perennial grass, attaining in good soil a height of 

 from six to ten feet. The leaves are one to two feet long, 

 and frequently an inch or more wide — rough on the edges 

 and with a few scattered hairs on the surface. It is a 

 native of Africa, but has been introduced into many 

 tropical countries — and in the West Indies is exten- 

 sively cultivated for pasturage. It has been introduced 

 into Florida, but is not yet much known in the Southern 

 States. It seldom matures seed in the United States, 

 but can be propagated by dividing the roots, or by 

 obtaining the seeds from foreign countries. If the 

 roots are planted in March or April, it is said they will 

 be ready for the first mowing by the end of May, and 

 that mowing may be repeated every six weeks till frost 

 occurs. It is too tender, Dr. Vasey says, to be culti- 

 vated except in the warmest portions of the States. 

 He adds further, that an analysis made by the chemist 

 of the Agricultural Department showed this grass to be 

 very rich in nutritive materials. 



