35 



Mysore as cattle fodder. Duthie gives the following account of this 

 grass {Fodder Grasses of Northern India, p. 5) : — 



" It is generally considered to be one of the best kinds of fodder 

 grass. It is abundant all over the plains, and ascends to some few 

 thousand feet on the Himalaya. It is greedily eaten by all kinds of 

 cattle both before and after it has flowered, the abundant crop of grain 

 yielded by it adding materially to its nutritive value It extends to 

 Australia, where, it is reported, its very succulent stems grow from 2 

 to 8 feet in height." 



10. Panicum maximum, J acq. (P. jumentorum, Pers.) : — "Guinea 

 grass." ^Native of tropical Africa. Widely cultivated in most countries. 

 In Brazil it is known as " Capim de Colonia." This grass was acci- 

 dentally introduced to Jamaica from the Coast of Guinea as bird food 

 about 1740. In 1794 Bryan Edwards wrote : " Most of the grazing 

 and breeding pens were originally created and are still supported by 

 means of this invaluable herbage, and perhaps the settlement of the 

 * north side' is wholly owing to the introduction of this excellent 

 grass." In 1879 taxes were paid in Jamaica on 115,576 acres under 

 guinea grass. It was described as " growing freely from sea-level up 

 to nearly 5,000 feet, and when once established, except for an occasional 

 weeding, it receives very little attention. It answers in every respect 

 the requirements of a good fodder plant in being perennial, nutritious, 

 and thoroughly suitable to the soil and climate." The late Dr. Imray, 

 quoted in the Kew Report, 1879, p. 17, says, u Guinea grass may be 

 cut down crop after crop for many years. I have had a guinea grass 

 piece (with the weeds cut down and an occasional manuring) kept in 

 good order for full 20 years/' Guinea grass grows to the height 

 of Z to 6 feet. The leaves are broad and flat, with the sheathes 

 and nodes softly hairy. The panicle is large and loose, with 

 numerous branches. Although it usually seeds freely, it is generally 

 propagated by root cuttings. It requires to be weeded at regular inter- 

 vals, and to be manured in poor soils. "When it grows rank and tall 

 it should be cut frequently to prevent it becoming too hard and coarse. 

 Analysis shows it to be very rich in nutritive qualities, and where this 

 grass can be fully established it is probably the best fodder plant known 

 for permanent cultivation. It is a favourite grass for stall-fodder, but 

 it is sometimes necessary to guard against over-feeding with this grass 

 alone in a rank state. It would form an excellent material for pre- 

 serving in silos. 



The following particulars have been published respecting the cultiva- 

 tion of Guinea grass in India (Diet. Econ. Prod. India, VI., Part 1, 

 p. 11) :- 



" It is best propagated by root cuttings. It should be planted about 

 2 feet apart, in parallel ridges, at the commencement of the rains. The 

 rows of plants should form lines at right angles to the ridges. This 

 arrangement will facilitate ploughing and weeding between the plants. 

 In Madras this grass is known to resist the effects of severe droughts. 

 In old-established fields it is advisable to pass a plough or cultivator 

 occasionally through and across the crop, and to manure the land 

 thoroughly. Where the plants have formed large tussocks these should 

 eq reduced by simple chopping with a spade or hoe at right angles, thus 



