852 
Supplement to the "Tropical Agriculturist" 
[.Tunc 1. 1895. 
it adding materially to its nutritive vain.-. It 
extends to Australia, where, it is reported, its 
very succulent stems grow from 2 to H feet in 
height." 
I'anicum maximum, Jacq. (P. jumentorum- 
Pers.). — "Guinea gi ass. " Native of tropical Africa- 
AVidely cultivated in most countries. In Brazil 
it is known as " Capini de Colonia. " This grass 
was accidentally intn duced to Jamaica from the 
Coast of Guinea as hird food about 17-10. 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 18751 taxes were paid in 
Jamaica on 115,o7(i acres under guinea grass. 
It was described as "growing freely Irom sea-level 
up to nearly 6|0©0 feet, and when once established, 
except for an occasional weeding, it receives very 
little attention. It answers in every revert I lie 
requirements of a good fodder plant in being 
perennial, nutritious, ami thoroughly suitable to 
the soil and climate. " The late Dr. linniy. quoted 
in the Kew Report, 1H7!», p. 17. says, h Guinea 
grass may he cut down crop niter cmp tor many 
years. 1 have had a guinea grass ].ie(e (will, 
the weeds cut down and an occasional manuring,) 
kept in good order for full 20 years." Guinea 
grass grows to the height of 3 to 0 feet. The 
leaves arj broad and flat, with the sheaths 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 
intervals, 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 estab- 
lished it is probably the best fodder plant known 
for permanent cultivation, lis 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 au excellent 
material for preserving in silos. 
The following particulars have been published 
respecting the cultivation of guinea grass in India 
(Diet. Econ. Prod. India, VI., Fart 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 o'f 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 occa- 
sionally through and across the crop, and to 
manure the land thoroughly. Where the plants 
have formed large tussocks these should be reduced 
by simple chopping with a spade or hoe at right 
angles, thus dividing each one into four parts. 
Of°these three may be removed for planting else- 
where, or they will form excellent bedding for 
cattle stalls. During the cold weather of Northern 
1 ndia 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 (iuiiint gr*M should 
not be grazed too eioeetv." 
The "St. Mary's (iras« " in Jamaica may be a 
robust vaiieiy at J', maximum or another species. 
It grows in large tufts to the height of O to H feet, 
with the stems hard and indented in old specimens. 
I'anicum bulbosiim, //.//.A", (regarded by Monro 
as a variety of P. martnuim, and found in the 
Southern United State*) is mentioned by Vas. v 
as likely to be of great agricultural value. "Its 
bulbous root slocks contain a -tore o| moisture 
which enables it to endure a protracted drought, 
and as the plant grows to a large size it would 
produce a great amount ol fodder." 
I'anicum molle, Strrtrtz. This is somewhat 
similar to the following P. inuticvin, with which 
it was confused by G rise bach in his Klua of 
t lie British West Indian [elanda. According to 
SwnrtzH is a native of Surinam, arid i> oenraraiily 
Called "Dutch gias-" in Jamaica. He de-cril>e« 
it as having thick succulent Menis which are 
readily eaten by cattle. 
I'anicum mnticuin, Forth. (P. pumidiauum, 
Lam ; P. burbinode, Trin. : I', molle, Gri*tl 
nou Sir.). — It has various names. such u* "Para 
grass," "Mauritius grass," ••Scotch grass," and 
" Water grass. " A coarse and very vigorous 
grass, spreading rapidly iu damp plucts. It has 
succulent steins and leaves, with the nodes dis- 
tinctly hairy. It roots readily at the joints, and 
these are even said to grow after passing through 
animals. Hence, this grass is regarded as unsuit- 
able to giOiV in the neighbourhood of cultivated 
•land. Its use is also discouraged as fodder for 
animal- specially kept for manure. For general 
pasture purposes it is, however, one of the best 
of tropical grasses. In Barbados, JO acies 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 cultivated elsewhere 
in the West Indies, in Florida (where it U said 
to make heavy growth on high pint -ridges », in 
Curaeoa (where it is regarded as capable of resist- 
ing 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 gruss were first intro- 
duced from Caracas to Barbados by Colonel Reid, 
Governor of the Windward Islands, iu 1847. Later 
a supply was received in this country, and for- 
warded to Kew, with the following letter from 
Earl Grey, Secretary of Slate for the Colonial 
and "War Department, addressed to Sir William 
Hooker, dated 30th 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 
slso now forwarded to you, together with a copy 
of the despatch from Colonel Reid, late Governor- 
in-Chief of the Windward Islands, in which the 
valuable qualities of this grass are described. 
Lord Grey requests that you w ill have the goodness 
to take charge of these roots and seeds, and to 
cause them to be prepared for transmission to ihe 
different Australian Colonies, to the Cape of Good 
Hope, and to the Mauritius. 
