8 

 E. S. McCulloch, Baton Rouge, La. : 



It is native here, hardy, and withstands drought admirably, but its cultivation is 

 neglected. It may be repeatedly cut for hay, and makes good pasture. It is adapted 

 to any land south of Virginia. 



In 1883 Mr. McOulloch sent specimens of this grass to the Depart- 

 ment and said : 



It grows here spontaneously in bunches or tussocks, holding its own against weeds 

 and all other grasses, even Bermuda. We have just experienced here in Louisiana a 

 drought lasting from July 15 to October 15, such as has not been known for many 

 years, and this grass is the only one which has withstood it successfully. It grows 

 very strongly, 2 to 3 feet high, flowers in June, and ripens in September and October. 



Paspalum platycaule. 



This has sometimes been called Louisiana grass. It occurs in all the 

 Gulf States and in the West Indies and South America. It grows flat 

 on the ground, rooting at every joint, and forming at the South a thick, 

 permanent, evergreen sod. It does well on almost any upland soil, and 

 is said to stand drought better than Bermuda. It usually grows too 

 short and close to the ground for hay, but for grazing it apparently has 

 many good properties. It may be distinguished from the other Pas 

 palums and from Bermuda grass by its flattened stems (whence the 

 name), and the very slender seed-stems, each bearing only two or three 

 very narrow, somewhat upright, spikes. The leaves, especially on the 

 long runners, are short and blunt. 



The fact of its being a perennial, and seeding freely, of its doing bet- 

 ter than mauy other grasses on poor soil, forming a compact tuft to the 

 exclusion of other plants, and of its being easily killed by cultivation, 

 will doubtless recommend it for more extended growth. 



Dr. Charles Mohr, Mobile, Ala.: 



It has taken a firm foothold in this section. It is perfectly hardy, prefers damp lo- 

 calities, and suffers somewhat from long droughts. It grows best in a sandy loam, 

 rather close, compact, and damp, in exposed situations, as it does not stand shade 

 well. It stands browsing and tramping well, and is greedily eaten by all kinds of 

 stock. Its vegetation begins earlier in spring than that of Bermuda. 



G. A. Frierson, Frierson's Mill, La., in the Southern Live-Stock Jour- 

 nal, says: 



It grows everywhere in rather low, wet, clay lands, and stands tramping and graz- 

 ing as well or better than Bermuda. 



B. H. Brodnax, Brodnax, Morehouse Parish, Louisiana : 



Paspalum platycaule was first noticed here about 1870 in very small patches. Since 

 then it has spread rapidly from seed. It is not cultivated. It stands frost very well 

 when firmly rooted, staying green nearly all winter, and it stands drought splendidly. 

 It grows best on a poor quality of land high above overflow, or where water could 

 stand on it. It is a splendid pasture grass, making a sod equal to Bermuda, but it is 

 not cut for hay. It is very easily destroyed, one plowing being sufficient to kill it. 



William F. Gill, Kerrville, Kerr County, Texas : 



I have recently noticed a grass making its appearance that as near as I can iden- 

 tify is this Paspalum platycaule. I first noticed it in the valley at Leon Springs in 



