147 

 CHAPTER XII. 



FODDERS. 



The question of the extended cultivation of fodder 

 plants, as well as the consideration of their storage for 

 winter use, has always occupied more or less of the atten- 

 tion of agriculturists, and of late years more practical 

 results have accrued in sending new fodder plants for culti- 

 vation into our colonies than in introducing such into our 

 own country. 



About fifty or sixty years since, several plants of this 

 character were brought to notice as suitable and very de- 

 sirable for cultivation in England. The exact dates, how- 

 ever, when they were first proposed it is diflScult to fix. 

 About fifty years ago a considerable amount of interest 

 was excited in the Gama Grass or Buffalo Geass {Trip- 

 sacum dactyloides) of the Southern States of America. 

 Though it is considered by some a good forage plant, it is 

 somewhat too tender for general cultivation with us. 



Airafiahellata, better known as Dactylis ccsspitosa — The 

 Tussock Grass — a strong-growing tufted perennial native 

 of the Falkland Islands, was introduced to Kew in 1842, 

 and seeds were afterwards obtained and freely distributed. 

 It was at one time supposed that it might become thoroughly 

 established in this country, bTit experience has shown that 

 the climate is too hot and dry. It has, however, succeeded 

 in the West of Scotland, and has become established in the 

 island of Lewis. It is doubtful whether the plant is really 

 adapted for pasture purposes. The tussocks are only formed 

 slowly, so that cattle would soon destroy them, and the 

 plant thus become exterminated. 



Under the name of Bromus Schraderi a new fodder 

 grass was introduced some fifteen or sixteen years ago. The 

 K 2 



