36 



dividing each one into four parts. Of these three may be removed for 

 planting elsewhere, or they will form excellent bedding for cattle stalls. 

 During the cold weather of northern India the plants dry up and remain 

 dormant until the approach of spring. In places where frosts appear 

 manure should be applied to the roots at the commencement of the cold 

 season. It is particularly enjoined that Guinea grass should not be 

 grazed too closely." 



The " St. Mary's Grass," in Jamaica may be a robust variety of P- 

 maximum or another species. It grows in large tufts to the height of 

 6 to 8 feet, with the stems hard and indurated in old specimens. 



11. Panicum bulbosiun, E. B. K. (regarded by Munro as a variety of 

 P. maximum, and found in the Southern United States) is mentioned 

 by Yasey as likely to be of great agricultural value. " Its bulbous root- 

 stocks contain a store of moisture which enables it to endure a protracted 

 drought, and as the plant grows to a large size it would produce a great 

 amount of fodder." 



12. Panicum molle, Sw. This is somewhat similar to the following 

 P. muticum, with which it was confused by Grisebach in hisFloraof the 

 British West Indian Islands. According to Swartz it is a native of 

 Surinam, and is commonly called " Dutch grass" in Jamaica. He des- 

 cribes it as having thick succulent stems which are readily eaten by 

 cattle. 



13. Panicum muticum, For sk. (P. numidianum, Lam. ; P. barbinode, 

 Trin. ; P. molle, Griseb. non Sw.) —It has various names, such as 

 " Para grass," " Mauritius grass," " Scotch grass," and " Water grass." 

 A coarse and very vigorous grass, spreading rapidly in damp places. 

 It has succulent stems and leaves, with the nodes distinctly hairy. It 

 roots readily at the joints, and these are even said to grow after passing 

 through animals. Hence, this grass is regarded as unsuitable to grow 

 in the neighbourhood of cultivated land. Its use is also discouraged as 

 fodder for animals specially kept for manure For general pasture 

 purposes it is, however, one of the best of tropical grasses. In Barba- 

 dos, 40 acres of this grass, well manured and irrigated, are said to yield 

 in good years cut-grass of the annual value of £600. It is largely cul- 

 tivated elsewhere in the West Indies, in Florida (where it is said to 

 to make heavy growth on high pine-ridges.) in Curacoa (where it is re- 

 graded as capable of resisting drought), and also in Ceylon, Mauritius, 

 and in the plains of Bengal. It is readily propagated by seed and by 

 cuttings of the root and stem. 



Seeds and plants of Para grass were first introduced from Caracas to 

 Barbados by Colonel Reid, Governor of the Windward Islands, in 1847. 

 Later a supply was received in this country, and forwarded to Kew, 

 with the following letter from Earl Grey, Secretary of State for the 

 Colonial and War Department, addressed to Sir William Hooker, dated 

 30 June, 1849 :— 



" I am directed by Earl Grey to transmit to you a copy of a despatch 

 from the Lieutenant-Governor of St. Lucia, stating that he had trans- 

 mitted a few roots of the Para grass, and proposed to send some seeds 

 when he should have been able to collect a sufficient quantity. 



" The roots and seeds having arrived, they are also now forwarded to 



