196 QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. [1 Mar., 1899, 
Hconomie Botany. 
JOBS TEARS (OOLX-LACHRYMA-JOBI)—A USEFUL FODDER. 
By lk. MANSON BAILEY, F.L.S., 
Colonial Botanist. 
Dorine Lord Lamington’s tour round New Guinea in May last, at almost all 
the places visited was seen a luxuriant growth of the grass known as Job’s 
Tears (Cota Lachryma-Jobi of the botanist). The growth of the plant and the 
beauty of its seeds made such an impression on Lord Lamington that he 
requested me to take seeds of each to Queensland for cultivation, which I did ; 
and the accompanying plate illustrates the product of a single seed sown in 
my garden at Spring Hill, in by no means favourable soil or situation for fodder- 
growing. 
The plant represented comprised 26 stems from 2 to 43 feet high, leafy 
throughout their whole length—in fact, it is a model fodder plant, suiting 
the climate both North and South of the colony, and from this point of view is 
now brought to the notice of dairymen and farmers generally. 
The present form seems to be of a more succulent character than that 
generally found in garden culture. 
The two kinds met with in New Guinea differed considerably in the form 
of the seed——the one being tear-shaped, and the other linear or oblong; both are 
usually of a bluish-grey colour. The stems of each, from a single plant, are 
numerous and very leafy. So far as I have been able to judge, the long- 
seeded form is of smaller growth, but my seeds of this were sown later than 
those of the other. I may remark that I have had specimens of this grass 
sent to me for determination from different parts of Queensland by persons 
who-have met with it in a naturalised state, but whether these belonged to the 
New Guinea forms or not I cannot say. 
One advantage possessed by this plant over sorghum is that it docs not 
make so strong a root, so that when necessary to plough out to renovate the 
plantation it will not form so strong a resistance to the work as the varieties 
of sorghum. ‘The stems are also more slender and not so coarse. 
In sowing the seeds, place them about 1 foot apart in rows 2 or 3 feet 
asunder, during the months of September and October. The plants being 
perennial they will last for several years without renewing. 
The plant may also be increased by divisions of the stool, which allows of 
vacancies in the plantation being filled up. 
The natives of New Guinea seem only to use “ Job’s Tears” for orna- 
mentation purposes, the pretty bluish-grey seeds being prized for making 
into necklaces and decorating their weapons, &e. I could not hear of the 
seeds being used for food by them, yet Sir J. D. Hooker tells us that the plant 
is cultivated in India for this purpose ; therefore in all probability the seed of 
the two New Guinea forms may be put to the same use in some parts of the 
island. Duthie states that in Oudh (India) the plant is largely eaten by 
cattle, and is said to be very fattening. 
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