NOTES ON GRASSES GROWING IN CEYLON. 



25 



214. Androscepia gigantea, Brong. Anthistiria gigan- 

 tea, Cav. Said to be a native of Luzon, Amboina, and Java. 

 It was grown some years ago at the Model Farm, Colombo, 

 and grew to a height of 7 to 8 feet, but it has disappeared 

 from this place, and though cultivated in a few places in Ceylon 

 as a fodder grass, it does not seem to answer well compared to 

 the Guinea and Mauritius grasses. 



215. JEucHLiENA (Reana) luxurians, called Teosinte. 

 This is a newly introduced fodder grass and grows readily and 

 to a great height, but dies down as soon as it seeds, and I fear 

 is not an economical fodder grass for Ceylon. 



216. G-ynerium argenteum, Nees. Pampas grass. This 

 grass was introduced some years ago to Ceylon, but I fear it 

 has not succeeded as a fodder for cattle. 



217. Sorghum vulgare, Pers, Holcus Sorghum, Linn. 

 Andropogon Sorghum. Brot. Indian millet, Karal-iringu, 

 Sinhalese. Sorghum saccharatum, Per. Idal-iriugu, Sin- 

 halese, and several other varieties of Sorghum have been 

 cultivated in Ceylon for many years, and grow to a height of 

 10 to 20 feet. In various parts of India it is considered one 

 of the best fodder plants, but in Ceylon I am not aware that 

 the culms are used as such. It has the following Indian 

 names : — -Cholom, Tamil ; Jowar, Hind. ; Janoo, Tel.; and the 

 Durra of Africa. From the Supplement to Ceylon Observer 

 of 19th July, 1879, I take the following extract : — 



" Choi am or big millst, Holcus Surgkam, is the principal food 

 grain in Nellore, Bellary Mild Kurnool. The proportion of dry culti- 

 vation devoted to it is one-half in these districts, and one-third in 

 Cuddapah, Coimbatore and Madura ; but it is very little used in 

 Chingleput, North Arcot, and Salem- 



" It is also largely cultivated in other parts of Asia as well as in 

 Europe, Africa, and America. There are several varieties of cholam 

 differing in size and in colour. Like raggi it is said to produce about 



