A n d ro p o g o n m u r ic a tu s , Eetzius. (A. squarrosus, Linné fil.)
India. The “ Vitivert ” or “ Kus-kus.” A grass of delightful
fragrance. According to Surgeon-Major Dr. G. King, the odorous
Indian mats are made of tliis grass, and aoeording to Prof. Lindley,
awnings, tatties, covers for palanquins and screens are manufactured
from this species ; also an essence is distilled from it.
A n d ro p o g o n m u tio n s , Steudel. (Isdiaemwm mutkum,
South-Asia, Polynesia, North-East Australia. A large grass,
rooting from the joints. Pronounced by Mr. H. N. Ridley as unquestionably
the best native fodder-grass of the Malay-peninsula.
He adds as also very good th e re ; A. ciliaris (Trinins) and A.
Timorensis (Steudel.)
A n d ro p o g o n N a rd u s , Linné. {A. Martini, Thwaites.)
From Southern Asia to Northern Australia, also in tropical and
sub-tropical Africa, but in different varieties. Perennial., One of the
lemon-scented species. Prof. Hackel suggests, that A. Calamus may
be referable to this species. Knnth unites with this A. citriodorus
(De Candolle), the A. citratus of many botanic gardens, while Link
referred this grass to A. Schoenanthus. I t yields an essential oil for
condiment and perfumery, and is occasionally used for tea. Simmonds
gives the export-value of this oil as from Ceylon alone a t
£7,000. “ Citrionella ” Oil to the extent of 40,000 lbs. annually is
in Ceylon distilled from this grass [Piesse]. Endures the winters of
P o rt Phillip [S. C. Kiernander]. A. procerus (R. Brown) is the
Lemon-grass of North-Western Australia ; it attains a height of 9
feet. A. exaltatus (R. Brown) is also scented ; it acts as a sudorific
and stimulant and proved refreshing in fever.
A n d ro p o g o n n u ta n s , Linné. (Sorghum nutans. Gray).
Eastern North America. A tall, nutritious, perennial grass, conten
t with dry and barren soil, too poor for still better grasses.
A n d ro p o g o n n u ta n s , Linné. (Sorghum avenaceum, Willdenow.)
Northern and Central America. This tall perennial grass lives in
dry sandy soil, and should he tried for growth of fodder.
A n d ro p o g o n p e r tu s u s , Willdenow.
Southern Asia, Tropical and Sub-tropical Australia. Perennial.
Mr. Nixon, of Benalla, regards it as one of the best grasses to w ith stand
long droughts, while it will bear any amount of feeding. I t
endures cold better than some other Andropogons of Queensland,
according to Mr. Bailey’s observations. Though not so palatable to
pasture-animals as some other grasses, this one is important for the
snmmer-season, when many others fail in the arid interior. This
species with A. sericeus and some other congeners only of inferior
value where the best English grasses can be grown, aud even apt to
strangle them.
A n d ro p o g o n p ro v in c ia lis , Lamarck.
Southern Europe. Strongly recommended by Bouché for fixing
loose maritime sand. Attains a height of 5 feet. A. furcatus (Muehlenberg)
is the same species, according to Hackel, seemingly immio
rated and naturalised in & the United States.
A n d ro p o g o n r e f r a c tu s , R. Brown.
Northern and Eastern Australia, Polynesia. Mr. Bailey observes
of this perennial grass, th a t it is equally excellent for pasture and
hay, and th a t it produces a heavy crop during summer ; the root is
fragrant. According to Mr. Holmes, it is easily inflammable, of
inferior fodder-value, hardly ever touched by cattle on account of its
scent, but is particularly used for mattresses in Fiji.
A n d ro p o g o n s a c c h a r a tu s , Roxburgh.* (Sorghum saccharatum, Persoon.)
Tropical Asia, or perhaps only indigenous in equatorial Africa.
The Broom-coru or Sugar-Millet; also passing as “ Durra,” “ Dochna,”
and “ Battari.” Tall, usually annual. Produces of all grasses,
except the Teosinté and maize, the heaviest of any fodder-crops in
warm climates. From the saccharine juice sugar is obtainable. A
sample of such, prepared from plants of the Melbourne Botanic
Garden, was shown already a t the Exhibition of 1862. This
Sorghum furnishes also material for a well-known kind of brooms.
Mr. Simmonds relates, th a t as many as 150,000 doz. of these brooms
have been made in one single factory during a year. To pigs this
plant is very fattening also. Mr. F. Rosan obtained by the aid of
irrigation as much as 30 tons of cut sorghum in a season from an acre
on the Low^er Murray-River. The plant can be advantageously utilised
for preparing syrup, especially for domestic use. F or this purpose the
sap is expressed a t the time of flowering, and simply evaporated ;
the yield is from 100-200 gallons from the acre. Already in 1860
nearly seven millions of gallons of sorghum-treacle were produced in
the United States. General Le Duc, then Commissioner for Agriculture
at Washington, stated, th a t Mr. Seth Kenny, of Minnesota,
obtained from the “ Early Amber ” variety of this Sorghum up to
250 gallons of heavy syrup per acre. Machinery for the manufacture
of Sorghum-sugar on plantations can be erected at a cost of £ 6 0 to
£100. Sorghum-juice can be reduced to treacle and sugar without
the use of chemicals, beyond clearing with lime and neutralising the
lime, remaining in the juice, by sulphurous acid. Raw sorghum-
sugar is nearly white. By an improved method Mr. F. L. Stewart
obtained 10 lbs. of sugar from a gallon of dense syrup. A t the State-
Universlty’s experimental farm, in Wisconsin, Professors Swenson
and Henry have proved, th a t sorghum-sugar, equal to the best cane-
sugar, can be produced as cheaply as cane- or beet-sugar. The
seeds are very valuable for stable-fodder as well as for poultry-feed,