The hay is of good quality and the yield is large. If left in the field, the vines and immature pods after they are frosted are eaten with relish by all kinds of stock. When the ripe pods have softened by contact with the ground, the seeds are readily eaten by cattle and hogs. About a peck of seed is used per acre, and the price of seed is usually about a dollar a bushel. It is doubtful whether this crop would satisfactorily replace cowpeas north of Florida. [See Velvet bean.] Carpet-grass (Paspalum compressum). This grass is found from Florida to central Texas and north to Arkansas. The stems grow very close to the ground, sending up leaves two to six inches high? It is greatly relished by all kinds of stock, and its habit of lying flat and rooting at the joints enables it to bear closer cropping than any other good grass. On light sandy soils, when this grass is closely cropped it will drive out all others. It is not confined to sandy land, however, doing well on good upland loams. It is seldom cut for hay, but is one of the best pasture grasses in the country so far as quality is concerned. Its carrying capacity is hardly known because so little effort has been made to utilize it under farm conditions. Its seed is not on the market. The tall, bare stems are fre quently cut and scattered where the seed is wanted. The seed could easily be gathered by hand or perhaps with a stripper similar to that used in harvesting blue-grass in the North.
Paspalum dilatatum. This grass was referred to above (page 449). In one section of southwestern Georgia it has become known under the name Dallis grass, from the name of a progressive farmer who has made considerable use of it for hay and pasture. In eastern Australia it is by far the most important of the grasses. It is known there as pas palum grass. It grows five or six feet high in Australia and is used mostly for pasture, remain ing green the year round. It has been little tried in the Gulf coast region, but as it thrives in a cor responding latitude in Australia, it would appear that it is worthy of trial in northern Florida. It is not well adapted to sandy lands, which may ac count for its scarcity in the Gulf coast region.
Japanese cane. A variety of sugar-cane known as Japanese cane is somewhat frequently grown for forage in northern Florida and along the Gulf coast as far west as Louisiana. The stalks are smaller and more numerous than those of ordinary sugar-cane and the plant remains green longer in winter. It produces enormous yields of good forage and is much appreciated by dairymen. It lasts sev eral years longer from one seeding than does the ordinary sugar-cane.
Cassava (Figs. 323, 324). An account of the forage crops of the Gulf coast region would not be complete without a mention of cassava. A rew years ago this crop was exploited in that region and it became rather popular, although interest in it has waned greatly in recent years. In the Gulf
coast region the roots are frequently used as feed for cattle and hogs, taking the place of corn, for which purpose they are valuable. It is difficult to secure a perfect stand of the crop. This may be done, however, by sprouting the stem-cuttings in coldframes before planting. An effort is now being made by the United States Department of Agricul ture to propagate this crop from seed, with a fair degree of success. [See Cassava.] Three recent introductions.
Guinea-grass (Panicum maximum), Fig. 523, the great forage plant of Cuba, is getting a foothold in Florida and along the Gulf coast to Texas. It does best on lands that are not wet, furnishes five or more cuttings a year and yields an immense quantity of excellent soiling material. It is best cut every four weeks, otherwise it becomes large and woody. It is very sensitive to cold, and if the ground freezes at all the roots are killed. It is used chiefly as a soiling crop. For the best results it must be planted in rows about five feet apart and cultivated. It produces seed at Biloxi, Mississippi, and volunteers freely from this seed. Little is known of its seed habits, as it is usually propa gated from root-cuttings. It lasts several years from one setting.
Para-grass (Panicum molle), Fig. 522, is a bad weed in wet lands in tropical countries. It first sends out long runners (twenty or more feet) with internodes two feet long. From the joints it takes root and sends up branches three or four feet high. It is decidedly a wet-land grass. Because of its vigorous growth it is difficult to eradicate, but yields remarkable quantities of hay or pasture. It is fairly well relished by stock. It is propagated by cuttings of the creeping stems, which live through the winter. It does not mature seed in this coun try to any extent. The cuttings are best planted just before the rainy season, about six to twelve feet apart each way. It is not adapted to rigorous climates, and must not be cut too late in the fall. Time should be allowed after the last cutting to produce sufficient growth to protect the roots dur ing the winter. It is a heavy grower, and may be cut every six weeks during the summer. The first cutting is made about June 1. It is grown in a few localities in Florida and in southern Texas. It has been known to carry three head of cattle per acre all summer and to keep them in good condition.
-fatal grass (Trichohrna roseal is a third recent introduction. It was introduced into Florida about 1890 by S. M. Tracy. It is well established there in the wild state in a few localities. It seeds abundantly and is spreading. Very little is known of its forage value. It grows two to five feet high an i may be worthy of more attention than it has reek iv d. In the Hawaiian islands it is a rather serious weed in the cane-fields.