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Panicum agrostoides, Muehlenberg.
North-America. One of the hardiest species, bearing the winter-
cold of New York. Can be utilised for muddy banks and undrained
marshy meadows. Easily disseminated, forming large tall clumps,
flowering as well from the joints as tops ; yields abundance of hay,
but must be out while young [Dr. Vasey].
Panicum altissimum, G. Meyer. (P. datius, Kunth.)
From Mexico to Brazil. An almost woody species of arborescent
habit, attaining a height of 30 feet. Panicles sometimes a foot and a
half long. Evidently desirable for naturalisation.
Panicum amarum, Elliot.
Eastern North-Amerioa.
drifting coast-sand.
A perennial species, fit to be grown on
Panicum antidotale, Retzius.
Soutliern Asia, Northern Australia. Height to 8 feet. Affords
the most copious natural fodder in some parts of Baluchistan [ J H.
Lace]. ®
Panicum atro-virens, Trinius. (Isachne Australis, R. Brown.)
South-Asia, East-Australia and New Zealand. A perennial grass,
not iarge, bnt of tender nutritive blade, particularly fitted for moist
valleys and woodlands, liked by pasture-animals.
Panicum brizanthum, Hochstetter.
From Abyssinia to Nepal. A large-grained perennial Millet-
Grass.
Panicum coenicdlum, E. v. Mueller.
Extra-tropic Australia. Valuable as an enduring grass for moist
meadows. ^ By the copiousness or scantiness or absence of Panicums
may the climate of various countries to some extent be recognised.
Panicum colonum, Linné.
South-Europe, North-Africa, South-Asia, North-Amerioa, A u stralia.
Annual. Considered one of the best fodder-grasses iu India.
I t is greedily eaten by cattle, the abundant crop of grain adding to
its nutritive value. In Northern India the grain serves the inhabitants
for food [Dr. G. Watt].
P a n i c u m c o m p o s itu m , Linné. (Oplismenus compositus, Beauvois.) .
South-Asia, East-Australia, Polynesia, New Zealand. The
growth of this soft-bladed and prolific grass should be encouraged
in forest-ground.
Panicum Crus GaUi, Linné.*
The “ Barnyard- or Cockshin-Grass.” Ooourring now in all warm
countries, but probably of far oriental origin, as it seems not recorded
in our ancient classic literature. A rich grass of ready spontaneous
dispersion, particularly along sandy river-banks, also around stagnant
water. Annual iu cool climes and nowhere of long duration. P .
Crus Corvi, L. is a variety of it. Regarded by R. Brown as indigenous
in Eastern and Northern Australia, where many other excellent
fodder-species occur, some perennial. I t will succeed also on somewhat
saline soil, particularly on brackish water-courses, likewise ou
moor-land. For rural rearing the short-awned variety should be
chosen. On the Lower Mississippi it has furnished as much as four
or even five tons of hay from one acre. Noticed in Jap an already by
the early European travellers. Had the Alexandrian Library not
been burnt, some clue as to the real place of the origination of this
grass and many other plants might have been obtained. Cows and
horses are very fond of this grass whether fresh or dry [Professor
P h a re s ]. Mr. J . R. Walpole writes : I t is a prolific seed-bearer,
throwing up a number of thick and succulent stems, up to 4 feet length.
On gravelly river-flats it particularly luxuriates ; even when placed
on dry banks it will resist heat well. Very little moisture causes the
seed to germinate and to start the plant into growth rapidly. I t will
stand close feeding. The grains serve well for feeding smMl cage-
birds. P. hispidulum, Eetzius, which accords with the Cockshin-
Grass in prolific growth and nutritiveness, prefers moist situations,
but will also stand considerable dryness.
Panicum deoompositum, R. Brown. (P. Imvinode, Lindley.)*
The Australian Millet. One of the most spacious of Australian
nutritious grasses. The aborigines convert the small millet-like
grains into cakes. I t is the only grain stored by the nomads of
Central Australia. This grass will thrive on poor soil with Eleusine
cruciata (Lam.), coming to maturity after rains in one month in the
torrid regions of Central Australia [Rev. H. Kempe]. Hardly different
from the North-American P. capillare, L., except in perennial
roots. The allied P . trachyrrhaohis (Bentham) from North- and
East-Australia also constitutes a very good pasture-grass. Of
similar value the exclusively Australian P . efiusum, R. Br. They
are among the few nutritious grasses fit for hot and arid desert-
tracts. Known to have grown after summer rains, within 5 weeks, to
3 feet and to flower,
J