JAMAICA. 



BULLETIN 



OF THE 



BOTANICAL DEPARTMENT. 



New Series.] FEBRUARY 1896. ptrt^ 



TROPICAL FODDER GRASSES. 



Reprinted from the Keiv Bulletin. 



The selection of suitable grasses for cultivation in tropical countries 

 is a matter of considerable importance. Few countries have completely 

 solved the question. It is evident also that a good deal of time and 

 energy is spent in the effort to introduce foreign grasses, when there are 

 excellent indigenous grasses close at hand. It is proposed to draw 

 attention to a few grasses that have attained to first rank for fodder 

 purposes in the tropics, and to give particulars respecting the conditions 

 under which they have been found to thrive. It is well known that the 

 same kinds of grasses do not succeed equally well in all localities. There 

 are certain conditions and peculiarities of climate and soil to be con- 

 sidered ; but there is no reason to doubt that if careful experiment is 

 made, suitable grasses can be found for cultivation in almost every 

 tropical country. In some of our colonies it is well known that grass, 

 even for valuable horses, is gathered day by day from waste places and 

 jungles. Such fodder is not only poor in quality, but it is liable to be 

 infected with disease from stray animals. Further, during seasons of 

 drought, the fodder supply is likely to fail altogether. The selection 

 and cultivation of grasses, with particular reference to their grazing 

 qualities, or for the production of hay, should receive more attention, and 

 it will doubtless become, before long, a regular branch of rural industry 

 in the tropics, as it has been for so many years in temperate countries. 



Natural Herbage. 



In the tropics the difficulty in establishing grasses is caused bv the 

 usually rank growth of weeds and bushes. These soon overrun any 

 cleared area, and they have to be continually eradicated, or the grass 

 would be completely destroyed. The natural herbage in most tropical 

 countries would, of itself, form excellent pasture for cattle and horses. 

 There is hardly any part of the world entirely devoid of good grasses, 

 and these should first of all receive attention. \Yhere no suitable 

 fodder grasses are available, then, under such exceptional circumstances, 

 it would be well to introduce the useful " Guinea Grass" and " Para 

 Grass" for cultivation on land suitable for the purpose. In countries 

 like Ceylon and Jamaica, there are vast stretches of lands, known as 



