June 1, 1895.] Supplement to the " Tr 
■02>ical Agriculturist." 
853 
" I am also to transmit to you a case contain- 
ing some slips of this grass, which, has been 
forwarded to Lord Grey from the Caracas. His 
Lordship would be glad to be furnished with any 
suggestions which may occur to you as to the best 
mode of proceeding in order to introduce these 
seeds and plants into those colonies for which they 
are best fitted. — I have, &c, (Signed J B. Hawes." 
The correspondence in regard to the introduc- 
tion of Para grass to Barbados is given by Dr. 
Lindley in the Journ. Hoy. Hurt. Soc.,iv. (1847) 
p. 148. Adapting the name given to the grass 
in Curacoa, Dr. Lindley called it Panicum jumen- 
torum, thus confusing it with Guinea grass. 
Further supplies of Para grass were received 
at Kew in six Wardian cases, shipped from Caracas 
by Her Majesty's Consul, Mr. J. Riddel. From 
these plants distribution was made (with full 
directions for cultivation)to various colonies in the 
eastern hemisphere, including New South Wales, 
Western Australia, Ascension, &c. In the first 
report it was stated that Para grass was capable 
of resisting drought. This was shown by Mr. Riddel 
to be an error. It evidently prefers and, indeed 
will only flourish in localities where it has abund- 
ant moisture. It is interesting to note that this 
distribution of Para grass from Kew by Sir 
William Hooker was one of the early operations 
undertaken by him to assist industries in the 
colonies. Such operations, since that time, have 
been consistently carried on for nearly 50 years. 
The following extact from the report of the 
Government Experimental Farm, Poona, for the 
year ending March 31, 1894 (p 5), gives the results 
of the experimental cultivation in India : — 
'•.Mauritius Water Grass or Buffalo Grass. — 
This is the chief fodder grass of Ceylon. There it 
remains green all the year round, and is employed 
largely for feeding milk cattle. A few roots were 
obtained from the School of Agriculture Farm, 
Colombo. The plant can be propagated either from 
the roots or from the stoloniferous stems which 
grow out laterally along the ground, and root at 
every node. Prom these rooted nodes straight shoots 
spring up. When ready to cut, the grass is very 
thick, and stands about 18 inches high. Cattle 
like it, but it grows slower than G uinea grass, 
and does not give the same out-turn. It has 
this advantage, it thrives well in a danp, even a 
wet, situation. The best method of propagating 
is to cut the long lateral stems into short lengths. 
Broadcast these sparingly over the surface, and 
cover lightly with soil. The plot on the farm since 
ithns become fully established has been cut twice 
at an interval of 87 days. The yields of green 
fodder were: — 
Yield per Acre, 
lbs. 
1st cutting .. 10,700 
2nd cutting . . 18,020." 
Panicum spectabile, Nees. — A valuable fodder 
plant long established in Brazil and other parts of 
tropical America. It is known as " Capim de 
Angola.'' According to Spruce it is also called" Canna 
Raima." The stem is stout, 5 to 6 feet high, with 
the nodes softly bearded. The leaves »re 3 feet 
long and about an inch broad. The spikes are 
numerous, with the spikelets arranged in 4 — 6 
series. It belongs to the same section of Panicum 
as the "Cockspur grass" (P.Cnix-tjalli). By some 
it is regarded as only a robust variety of that 
species. The Brazilian specimens in the Kew 
Herbarium are, however, well mnrked. This grass 
was introduced, according to Marti us, Ft. Brass., 
ii., pt. 2, p. 143, from the South-West Coast of 
Africa. It prefers moist situations, and spreads 
rapidly everywhere. On the ISiger, Barter de- 
scribed it as "an aquatic grass 6 feet high.'' In 
East Africa Kirk speaks of it as supplying 
" the richest fodder for cattle." It is very widely 
spread in tropical America, in Cuba (Wright), 
Jamica (MaeFadyen), various part3 of Brazil, 
and south as far as Paraguay. It is a very 
desirable grass to introduce into the East Indies. 
Seeds of " Capim de Angola" sent to Kew by 
Glaziou (Kew Beports, 1880, p. 16) proved to 
be "Para grass" Panicum muticum, Porsk.). 
Panicum texanum, Buckley. — " Blue-grass," 
" Colorado grass," " Buffalo grass," or " Austin 
grass." An annual grass little known outside 
Texas. The plant is furnished with an abundance 
of rather short, broad leaves, and the stems, 
which are rather weak, are often produced in 
considerable number from a single root. It grows 
usually from 2 to 4 feet high. It prefers rich, 
alluvial soils, but stands drought well, though 
on dry uplands the yield is much reduced. It 
is especially valuable for hay. 
Paspalum eonjugatum, Berg. — "Sour grass" 
of Jamaica. ' Green grass" of Singapore. A 
low grass rooting at the nodes, seldom more than 
1 to 2 feet high, leaves bright green, flat, and cliate. 
The flowers arranged in two divergent spikes 
at the top of the stem. Widely distributed 
throughout tropical America and Africa. In- 
troduced to Ceylon and East Indies. In Jamaica 
this grass forms the excellent " low-bite " past urea 
in the warmer parts of the island. It spreads 
rapidly, and covers the ground to the exclusion 
of everything else. In Ceylon this grass was 
described by Dr. Thwaites as growing well in 
shade and in places exposed to the sun, and it 
retained its fresh green appearance even during 
the dry season. It is a somewhat coarse grass, 
but when cut and slightly dried it has been 
found a very acceptable food to cattle and horses. 
In Singapore this grass is equally valued, and 
it deserves to be more widely known in the 
East. 
Paspalum distich urn, L. (B. vaginatum, S'w.). 
— "Silt grass" or "Water couch." A coarse, 
somewhat tall grass, with creeping rhizom.'s and 
convolute, rarely flat, leaves. The floweis are 
arianged in two spikes. It is a common grass 
in pastures and wet places in tropical America, 
and extending also into temperate countries. It 
is said to be naturalized in South-Western France. 
Probably indigenous to Australia, where it endures 
some frost, and is temporarily inundated. Will 
grow half emerging in shallow pools or wet 
meadows, and proves quickly fattening to cattle. 
It keeps beautifully green throughout the year, 
affords a sufficiently tender blade for feed, and 
is excellently adapted to cover silt or bare slopes 
on banks of ponds or rivers ^.Mueller). 
Paspalum sanguinale. Lam. { Panicum sanguinale, 
Lam.). — 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 (S inches long. In culti- 
vated areus this grass is a troublesome weed, us 
