March 1907.] 



Edible Products. 



North America, and is said to be one of the commonest species in the prairie region 

 of Louisana. It is found along ditch-sides and in other wet places in Tennessee and 

 the littoral States from South-eastern Virginia to Florida, and westwards to Texas. 

 Throughout this region, in which it is probably naturalised, it is a highly valued 

 fodder-plant, and is widely planted in favourable situations. Introduced into 

 Australia by Baron F. von Mueller, its cultivation was commenced in the Richmond 

 River district, New South Wales, in 1892. Thence it has spread to Queensland, 

 Victoria, and Western Australia, and is now regarded as one of the best fodder- 

 grasses in the country. From the Wollongbar Experimental Farm (Richmond 

 RiverJ seeds were sent to India, and the grass has been grown, with but moderate 

 success, in the fuel and fodder reserves at Nagpur, though it promises to do well in 

 the plains of the Central Provinces. The Agricultural and Horticultural Society of 

 India report ( Annual Report, 1900) that it grows vigorously at Mussoorie, in spite of 

 " intense cold." The roots of a cJump grown there measured over 3£ feet in length. 

 In the Annual Report of the Superintendent of the Royal Botanic Garden, Calcutta 5 

 for 1900-1901, occurs the following statement : — 



" The use as a fodder-grass of Paspalum dilatatum a native of America, 

 which has proved very valuable in Australia owing to its drought-resisting qualities, 

 has led to its introduction to India on as large a scale as possible. Finding that very 

 little seed could be spared by Australian correspondents of the Garden, the assistance 

 of the Agrostologist to the Department of Agriculture of the United States was 

 invoked. Thanks to the kind help of that officer, a large supply of the seed of this 

 grass was obtained from America, and has been freely distributed throughout 

 India." 



The attention of South African agriculturists has recently been directed to 

 the valuable properties of Paspalum dilatatum as a fodder-grass. A few plants were 

 found at Newcastle (Natal) by Mr. J. Medley Wood in 1897, though when or through 

 what channel introduced is not known, It is now found to be fairly abundant in the 

 neighbourhood of Newcastle, and, in all probability, numerous patches occur in various 

 parts of the Colony, In New Zealand it has been in cultivation since 1896, at the 

 Momohaki Experimental Station, where it has produced a yield of grass equal to 

 9i tons an acre. It is, however, killed by the cold of the New Zealand winter. The 

 plant is found also, as a weed or escape, in Porto Rico, Mauritius, and the 

 Straits Settlements. 



This grass is a coarse leafy perennial with a tendency to grow in clumps ; it 

 attains a height of 2 feet and over— in favourable situations even reaching 6 feet. It 

 thrives best upon rich moist land, and grows very luxuriantly in black alluvial soils. 

 It is said to succeed also in sandy soils, even when a considerable proportion of salt 

 is present. Being a very deep-rooted grass it has a remarkable capacity for with- 

 standing conditions of drought. In Western Australia it nourishes in poor mountain 

 soils. When once established it withstands frosts, if not continuous, and, in Victoria 

 is successfully cultivated up to an elevation of 2,000 feet. It is, in fact, admirably 

 suited for cultivation in tropical and sub-tropical climates. 



As a permanent pasture grass, Paspalum dilatatum holds a high position among 

 tropical grasses. Notwithstanding its luxuriant habit, its tissues are soft and 

 succulent, and contain only a normal proportion of woody cells. There is "no part 

 of it, from the crown to the head, that stock will not eat." When well-established it 

 endures long periods of drought without injury. It starts its new growth early in 

 the spring, and continues to grow vigorously until late autumn. It thus affords 

 excellent late summer and autumn feed. Its permanence on suitable soil is undoubt- 

 ed, for at Wollongbar, after four years' grazing, "the paddocks are still improving 

 and giving an increased quantity of feed," (H, M. Williams, in N. S, W. Agricultural 



