The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1880-03-24
Grasses for the South.


grass of the south, or green valley
grass of the southwest, Sorghuna
hdlepense, in which l spoke of its
reputed merits as forage plant in
portions of the south, and expressed
a desire for more information respect
ing it. Since the publication of that
article have received over a dozen
letters on the subject, from half a
dozen different southern states, some
of them giving further information
about the grass, and commencing it
highly, while larger number ex-
press desire for information, where
to obtain seed, etc. These letters
are of interest as indicative OF the
wide range of the Country Gentle
man, and also as giving evidence
that some of the agriculturists at the
south are giving their attention to
more diversity Of crops, and begin.
ming to accept the northern motto,
"No grass no cattle no cattle no
manure; no manure no profits" l
take pleasure, therefore, in commu-
nicating at this time such informa-
ton as has been furnished me by the
letters referred to, trusting it will
prove serviceable to many southern
readers.
Among the first to respond to my
request was Mr.. Herbert Post, of
Marion Junction, Alabama, who also
has communication on this subject
in the Country Gentleman of Octo-
Der 9th, page CAS-. He gives relia-
bic information in regard to the dit:
terent names, and shows how the
name Johnson grass came to be APP
piled to this Sorghum halepense and
that although called Guinea grass in
some parts of the south, this name
more properly belongs to another
grass, -Pd'alcatDo jat71entOr,tA1, which
is somewhat similar and a valuable
grass for the south, but he gives a
decided preference for the johnson
grass. He says IN his letter, Il have
been familiar with grasses Of various
kinds all my life. but / have never
seen any equal 10 this for both pas
ture and hay, as well as soil feeding"
He sent me few stalks and heads
to prove that his grass was identical
with mine
Mr.. G. Codrington, editor Of the
FLORIDA AGRICULTURIsT, at De-
Land, sent me two copies OF that pa
per containing accounts of the
Guinea grass, Pa1aicu71a, and wrote
me that this is esteemed as far more
valuable than the Johnson grass for
Florida, the latter being regarded as
impoverishing to the soil, and too
difficult to eradicate. But better
than either Of these is another grass
which Mr.. Codrington introduced
into Florida from Brazil, called Para
grass, also a species Of Pa1oicma-
its specific name is not yet deter
mined. This, like the other TWO
grasses, is perennial in the south, and
is propagated both by seeds and
roots. All these are OF tall growth,
resembling sugar cane, but smaller,
and need to be cut several times in a
season to prevent growing too
coarse.
Mr.. Codrington was formerly
resident of Jamaica, West Indies,
and is quite familiar with the forage
plants of that country he intro
duced the Guinea grass from there
into FLORIDA, though | believe this
was not its first introduction into this
country. He is quite sanguine in
the belief that this and the Para
grass are destined to effect great i'm
provement in the agriculture of
Florida.
Mr.. Charles Mohr, noted botan-
list of Mobile, is the author of a val
liable treatise on the forests and
grasses of Alabama, written for -Ber-
9aeys Hand Book Of Alo6anG. He
has kindly sent me copy of this
treatise, and letter about these
southern grasses. He says:
''If many of the most valuable
grasses of the north do not thrive
with us, our farmers find in the cul-
ture OF the larger but not less palat-
able and nutritious grasses intro
duced from the warmer zones ample |
substitutes. The experiments made |
in these respects have led to highly
encouraging results. OF these
grasses, having come only of late
years into use, l will mention the
following:
Panicuna j,tmentoruaa, Guinea
grass, a native of Africa, extensively
cultivated throughout the tropics.
1t is planted with us in the begin
ming Of April [roots or sets]