10 



Beame, United States consul at Kingston, Jamaica, through whom the 

 seed was purchased, said in regard to it that of the two kinds of grasses 

 grown on the island almost exclusively (Bermuda and Guinea) the 

 Guinea is cultivated the more extensively. It grows tall and rank, 

 reaches the height of 8 or 10 feet when mature, and yields a coarse 

 seed, very much resembling millet. It grows anywhere on the island 

 up to the top of the highest mountains, growing rankest where the rain- 

 fall is most abundant. In St. Mary's Parish, which has more rains than 

 any other, it is coarser than when grown elsewhere. It is propagated 

 by "sets" and by seed. All stock thrive upon it. 

 M. 0. Oodrington, of Florida, formerly of Jamaica, says : 



In coming to Florida I perceivecf that the great need of the State was a good grass 

 adapted to the climate. I wrote to Jamaica for some seed of the hardiest variety,, 

 called there " St. Mary's Grass." This I planted in the spring of 1872, and got about 

 twelve plants to grow. As fast as the roots became sufficiently large I took them up, 

 separated them and replanted, some roots giving me twenty-five to thirty plants; but 

 I found that the planting should be done immediately after a heavy rain, when the 

 earth was quite wet. I continued this operation until September, when I allowed 

 the plants to go to seed. The plants stood several frosts before being killed. I 

 then cut the fodder, and found, even then, that stock ate it with avidity. This 

 spring the old roots sprouted again, and all around them innumerable young plants 

 came up from seed. The land I used was poor worn-out pine land — too poor even to 

 grow sweet potatoes. The grass grew eight feet high in some places, and the second 

 season I cut some of it three times. The success of this grass I consider established 

 beyond a doubt. 



J. G. Knapp, Limona, Fla. : 



This very valuable grass found its way into Tampa many years ago from Cuba, or 

 some other of the West India islands. Though it ripens seed here, it is generally 

 propagated by dividing the roots, and by the stolons springing from the lower joints 

 of the stems, which are used as plants As it sends forth no creeping root-stocks it 

 does not form a tuft, but grows in clumps or bunches, leaving bare spots. When 

 planted in hills three feet apart each way the blades will meet and shade the entire 

 ground. It can be cut each month, from April to November, yielding a ton of hay at 

 each cutting. It should be cut as close to the ground as possible to prevent it form- 

 ing high tussocks, and for the same reason should not be pastured. A degree of cold 

 that will make an inch of ice will greatly damage, if not kill it, but such a freeze is 

 very unusual in this country. Few plants yield a larger amount of fodder, and for 

 this county it may be considered among the most valuable that we have. The roots 

 when placed on the surface readily decay. With proper fertilization a plantation 

 will remain productive for many years. 



Jas. 0. Neal, Archer, Fla. : 



A valuable addition to the " cut forage plants " for this locality. It rapidly forms 

 great tufts of hard stems, however, and requires much fertilizing and constant cut- 

 ting to keep in good shape. It is greedily eaten by stock, and makes fine dry forage. 

 The first frost kills it to the ground, and this habit makes it of no value as a winter 

 grass. It ripens seeds here. 



Dr. Charles Mohr, Mobile, Ala : 



The cultivation of this grass was successfully tried a few years ago at the truck farm 

 of the Zimmer Brothers in this vicinity. The severe winters of the last two years, 

 however, killed the volunteer seedlings, which spring up during the fall, and which 

 are depended upon for new plantings the following spring. This and the ravages of 

 the army worm have caused its cultivation to be abandoned. 



