Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-09-24
POISONOUS GRASS.
Montana Cattle Dying from Eating
the Cultivated johnson Variety.

rAOAtAuA Sahtle Dying from eating
the Cultivated johnson Variety
MILES City, Montana, Sept. 49,
Several head of cattle have died with
Ia the last few days at a ranch three
miles south of here and it is claimed
that they were poisoned by eating
johnson grass, few acres of which
were cultivated on that ranch. John
son grass" (sorgun halapense) is also
known under the names of Arab
ian evergreen millet," or evergreen
millet," and also Egyptian" Screen
valley grass" "Gainea," and
Means" Its history is about as fol-
lows: Gov. Means, OF South Caro-
lima, sent man to Turkey in 1885 Or
Whereabouts to teach the Turks the
culture of cotton. The teacher brought
back a variety of seeds, among which
were some seeds of this grass. It was
cultivated by William Johnson, of
Alabama, in 1910 and was called aft
er him. It is of the sorghum family,
has large wide leaves, is said to make
excellent fodder, and is described as
follows: II rifles with a stem from four
to twelve feet high according to the
soil on which it grows, erect smooth.
leaves linear, fexous, graceful, curl.
ing down at the ends like corn fodder
In a panicle at the top, at first green
gradually turning brown. It has
cane-like roots Tor underground stem)
that pdnetrate the ground ten or
twelve inches.
The Stock Growers Journal OF
recent date covers the general opinion
of stock growers here ia reference to
poisoning by this grass in the follow
ing:
Some excitement has been caused
recently in this vicinity by the mys~
terious death of several head of cattle,
which after examination was reported
to have been caused by eating John
soa grass. On this report stockmen
are advised to spare no time or ex-
pense in eraaicating this grass from
the face OF the earth. 1t might, be
well not TO act too hastily In this mat
ter, as Johnson grass has been raised
and fed for a number of years, and
this is perhaps the first time it has
ever had poisonous qualities imputed
to it, and it is not possible that there
may be some mistake as TO what caus-
ed the death of these animals. johns
son grass is rich. nutritious feed, and
perhaps the most easily grown hay Of
any kind, farmers and stockmen in
countries where there is more rain,
and where the seasons are longer than
they are in Montana, frequently cut
ting three heavy crops from the same
land in one year.
The writer does not remember to
have seen it pastured while growing,
but he has known thousands of cattle
wintered On the hay from it, and well
wintered, without any injurious eff
fects whatever. In fact, it is consid-
cred superior feed, and. considering
the ease with which it may be raised,
It docs not seem wise to com
mence the work of determination
without a thorough investigation.
It may be that the cattle in quest
ion, coming off of dry feed, filed their
stomachs SO fall Of this rich grass as
to cause death from cholic or some
other disease produced by sudden
crowding of the stomach with green
food. Il is well known that death is
often produced by eating clover or
grass or fodder in this way.
If Johnson grass Is 50 deadly poison
Gus as it is suddenly represented to be,
it is strange that the farmers and
stockmen who have raised and fed it
so successfully for so many years have
not discovered it before. It is best
not to act too rashly in graduating
grass which can be more successfully
grown in our small valleys than any
other.
William Stroug, who has a ranch
near town on Tongue river, brought
into our flee a sample of johnson
grass, which it is claimed has proved
so poisonous to cattle. He reports
that a cow which was on a small
patch of the grass in his garden only
about five minutes was taken sick,
and he is satisfied that she would have
died had he not administered anti
dotes. One cow that had eaten only
the dry tops of the grass was not in
iured, but the one that devoured the
green lower end of the stem was taken
violently Ill as If poisoned The con-
clusion is that the green stalk will
kill cattle, while it is well known that
hay from this grass is not only harm
less but really a nutritious nay. n
the meantime, it will be well for those
who have this grass to- keep it fenced
and use it only for hay. .:
His Theory.
San Francisco Chronicle.