Paspalum Virgatum.

King Country Chronicle, Volume II, Issue 96, 21 August 1908, Page 3

Paspalum Virgatum.

B. Harrison of Burringar, New South Wales, has the following to say concerning pasplaum virgatum:—This plant belongs to the same family as the well-known paspalum dilatatum, and is a deep-rooting, strong-growing plant. It possesses the reputation of being a first-class drought and frostresisting species, and is suitable for pasture or hay if cut when the lower stems appear. The habit of growth is upright, and in appearance it resembles wheat or oats. The stems are somewhat coarse and carry many leaves, which are fairly soft, and palatable to stock, and it yields an immense quantity of fodder. The seed germinates well, and the plant spreads rapidly from the parent stem, forming dense tufts. At the Hamel State Farm (W.A.) this grass has reached a height of over 9ft. after a few months' growth. A Brisbane -(Q.) gentleman, writing to me says: "My son has a farm on the Pine River, 1,100 acres in extent, on which he has cultivated all the choicest species of grasses, but paspalum virgatum is far and away the best. It is a splendid soft grass, and stands frost well, does not form so much fibre, or waste storks as paspalum dilatatum." I have many species of grasses growing here, but vi sitors appear to fancy p. virgatum most. To those who own poor or sandy soil, or in a district with a light rainfall, this grass should prove of great value.