CYNODON DACTYLON. Pers.
Panieum dactylon, I Agrostis linearis, Durbha, . BENG., HIND. RUMBA pillu,. . TAM. Doob, Double, „ Arugam pilu, . . „ Harlan, Durva, . DOKII. Carika kasuvu, . TEL. GIMOOT,. . . . HIND. Tella gariki, Khabal, Khabbar, Barawa, . . .
Darya, . . . SANSK.
Tho Harryallee grass of India and Europe is considered, in India, tho best for cattle. The root creeps through the loose soil to a considerable extent, and has strong fibres at the nodes. The stem rarely exceeds six inches in height. Florets aro all on ono side of the spike-stalk, awnless, purplish, and ranged in two close alternate rows. All the stems which lie near the ground take root, and by this means though an annual plant, it increases and spre,4ds very wide. It yields abun dance of seed, of which small birds are very fond.
It is grown for hay ; and it is good to allow th; seed to ripen before the hay is cut, as it flier propagates itself by seed, in addition to the runners This grass is found in Gre,at Britain, but its pro duce and nutritive properties are there conapara tively insignificant, while in India it constitute; three-fourths of the pasture. Sir W. Jones observe; (As. Res. iv. p. 242) that it is the sweetest anc most nutritious pasture for cattle, and its useful. ness, added to its beauty, induced the Hindus, ir their earliest ages, to personify it as the mansior of a benevolent nymph. The A't'harvana Veda
thus celebrates it : My Durva, which rose from the water of life, which has a hundred roots and a hundred stems, efface a hundred of my sins, and prolong my existence on earth a hundred years.' It is the principal one of the Indian grasses, and is perhaps the most generally diffused, pos sessing much nourishing propertyin its long stems, no less than in its leaves. It endures the greatest elevation of temperature, as its roots penetrate far below the surface ; and although, during the dry hot season, giving no sign of life, it puts forth its tender leaves on the first approach of the rains. It grows throughout the year, and lawns and pastures of moderate extent are made by planting pieces of the creeping stems. It is also much used for forming a covering for the banks of rivers, ramparts, and esplanades. The young and tender leaves are used in ehatnis, and are con sidered very pleasant ; tbe roots make a cooling drink. It is also one of the most abundant grasses on the Tenasserim coast, but it is much less con spicuous than many others.—Illason; Cleghorn ; Jaffrey ; Von Mueller.