THE GRAZIER.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 952, 7 May 1879, Page 4 (Supplement)

THE GRAZIER.

rkasa. a ni:w fod!>'!•:it IJKASS. ■ la hia annual report mi tlif •Ap«rim« utal cultures in "»«• Ad«fct-di: f» >t;ui:r «;«rtfriv, l>r. Seliotuburgk give* thelowing— ~ ... Rrana lnwii»n< Yrbr..a n»w r««.d*r jir.uw, of which tit.- v.tl" 'bt- quale";-. ; "v ~; . iv rixi-ritlv 1" t*n is ..biishtii. :irid wliti .-i is indications to South America. I '*-j ceived the sod t'emu the- Soetete .1 Acclimutation, !i:-:dy .omi«. nd.-d ;«» »| summer foodvr plant ot rich growth, ami suitable fur forage under favorable conditions, euormoudy prolific, and easily propagated* Its luxuriant ana extremely teu'ter and sweet stems arn much liked by cattle, and p.waesa great fattening properties. It also- deserves a place in the garden as an ornamental plant, on account of the bright green, graceful foliage. Before going into the detail of my experience regarding the cultivation of the plant in South Australia, I will finote a tew extracts from the New Caledonia Moniteur, where the plant has been introduced ind highly spoken of. The Montteur, which was kindly forwarded to me by Mr. J. Page, Adelaide, contains some useful andi interesting information as to the usefulness o£ the grass. The Beana was first brought into notice by Mr. JRossignan, the director of the Botanic Garden af. Guatemala, in which it hasbeeneultivated under the popntar name " Teaainte." Mr. Roasignan stated in a letter to the director of the Jardin d Acclimatation, Paris, that the- people of Guatemala were in the habit of eating the young shoots, and used the leaves as fodder for the cattle, and of the statics they made fences, hurdles, and walkingsticks. In 1872 Mr. Danen de Maisanneuve wrote on the subject as follow s .—- "It ia a very large gramineous perennial, aad very rich fodder plant, bat one which it. is impossible to cultivate successfully lis onr climate, even in the South of France. The plants grew luxuriantly, but did not flower, and perished tn the cold weather." 1 He regards the Keana as without a rival as a fodder plant, t-atrh of the plants in the Bordeaux Gard-n having thrown out about 100 shoots three metres long. Tlie stems are tender, ami contain a great quantity of saccharine mattery and it is estimated that each plant would supply food fur two large cattle for 24 hoars. .In l»73Mr.Ro-sstgnanreportson this, plant, and says that tn Guatemala H grew in a temperate ssone better than in very warm climates. It has been found that it grows most luxuriantly in now moist soil. Cattle fed on it fattened rapidly. It is also propagated by cuttings. In Mauritius, where it has been introduced, splendid results have already been attained from its cultivation. A tew seeds sown in dry soil produced enough fodder for two a day. The plant can be cut down, and b speedily replaced by young shoots. Mr. Troulete, writtng in 1876 of plants yrown in Mauritius, stated that the cattle were very tond it, and eat it greedily. One stem forwarded to htm, although many ot the seedsi had fallen out, still contained over a thousand seeds. . In New Caledonia the Reana is strongly recommended as a tuxuriantly growing plant, and its qualification as a fydder plant described in terms of the highest A® already mentioned, I received the aegd from the Societe d Acclimatattott, Paris, in July last, which J sowed at once in buxes. 'i'he seed soon gerioinattci. and the young phuvts showed at once- a luxuriant development. As I feared the season was not far advanced enough to. trust them tt> the open ground they were planted in 4in. pots, and tn a sheltered place until the middle «t Septembers when about 160 were planted in the- expbimental ground of the park, the soil being: tolerably good, havins; only been dusf. The cold weather checked their growth in the commencement, but since the month of October, when the warmi weather set in, their development has been surprising, notwithstanding that ; after planting they have never been watered, and, considering the great dryness of the season, their growth is : vigorous. The- characteristic of the Re-ana | of throwing cut such a number of stems is also-predominant on our plants. I h«* plants do' not as yet show the slightest effect from the injurious drought, the leaver preserving their healthy green, white the blades of all the either kinds have suffered materially and are burnt. It Mtsma the Ruatta. the same cultivation as the maize and sorghum. ! The- seed should not be planted betore ; September; all due regard being paid to, its enormoust development, tl'ie seeds should be planted at least 4ft. apart. It would be premature to predict as yet tliat the Reamfc is adapted to our climate so as to become a prohtable summer fodder. There is also' another important point—viz., will the plant produce seed, and will it ripen with us, although the plant is » perennial one, and will last for years f J am in hopes that the plant wilt turn out a tcreatt acquisition to our summer fodder •plants. ~.ny one who takes an interest uv these matters may see the ptants growing in the park ; it is the first bed after .entering the park from Hackney near the Lunatic Asylum garden fence. Tl« ptaut is liable to be mistaken tor maiz» or sorghum, which it clos'.-ty resembles, and, that like maize, it bears male Uowersat the extremity »»t the stems, whilst the female dawers appear on the stem, ■ -