39 



18. Paspalum sanguinale, Lam, (Panicum sanguinale, Linn.) — A 

 widely diffused annual grass, found in all warm regions of the globe. The 

 stems usually rise to the height of 2 to 3 feet, and at the summit have 

 from three to six slender flower spikes, each from 4 to 6 inches long. 

 In cultivated areas this grass is a troublesome weed, as it spreads with 

 amazing rapidity. Known in the United States as " Crab grass," 

 where it is recognised as the most useful of all pasture grasses, it makes 

 a sweet hay, and horses are exceedingly fond of it. Cotton and corn- 

 fields in the south are often so overrun with it that the hay which 

 might be secured would be more valuable than the original crop. In 

 Fiji, Singapore, and Ceylon it is widely diffused near gardens and plan- 

 tations. In the former country it is "the best pasture grass," while 

 at Singapore Ridley says it makes an excellent " turf grass." 

 Panicum pabulare, Aitch. Html. (P. ciliare, D.C.) is a variety of 

 P. Sanguinale described by Aitchison as the best fodder grass for cittle 

 in the Kuram Yalley of Afghanistan. 



19. Paspalum scrobiculatam, Linn — "Kodo" or "Koda" Millet of India. 

 An erect growing annual grass, with stems about 2 feet in height. It is 

 widely dispersed through the tropics of the eastern hemisphere, gene- 

 rally regarded as a valuable pasture grass, and as an ingredient for hay. 

 It sometimes attains a height of 6 to 8 feet. The grain is largely used 

 as food by the natives of India, but it is by no means a wholesome 

 article ot diet. Unless special precautions are taken, it is liable to act as 

 a narcotic poison. Cattle, and especially buffaloes, eat the grass readily 

 when it is young. The straw is occasionally used as a fodder. Animals 

 are, however, carefully excluded from the fields when the crop is ripen- 

 ing, as they appear to suffer even more than men from the ill-effects 

 of Kodra poisoning. It is the " Ditch-millet" of New South Wales 

 and the Herbe a epee of Mauritius. 



20. Stenotaphrum americanum, Kunth. (S. dimidiatum, Trin.). — 

 " Pimento grass." (Jamaica), " Buffalo grass" (Australia). A perennial 

 creeping grass, with wide- spreading rhizomes, seldom more than a foot 

 high. Each joint of the rhizome bears a tuft of smooth, pale-green 

 leaves. The panicle is 3 to 4 inches long, with a flat jointed rachis. This 

 is an excellent grass for binding sea sand and loose soil of river banks. 

 It flourishes on dry limestone soils in Jamaica, and affords nourishing 

 food for animals pastured under the pimento trees. Hence its name. 

 There seems to be a diversity of opinion as to its merits as a fodder 

 plant in other countries. It keeps alive in the hottest and driest 

 region of central Australia, where it was introduced by Sir F. von 

 Mueller. It was successfully established also as Ascension, and it 

 flourishes on the singularly arid volcanic rocks of that island. The 

 plant has been grown for many years in pots and under the stage in 

 the cool Economic House at Hew. 



Bibliography. 



The Fodder Grasses of Northern India. By J. F. Duthie, B.A., 

 F.L.S. Roorkee, 1888. 



Agricultural Grasses of the United States. By Dr. George Tasey, 

 Washington, 1889. 



