The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1890-03-20
ESPARCETTE.


this column should be addressed
EsPARCETTE.
Esparcette or saintfoin is a peren-
NAL plant resembling alfalfa in its
growth, and with nutritive properties
little higher than that deservedly
popular forage plant. 1t is a native
OF Europe, and has there been held of
great value for at least half CEN
fury.
1t makes excellent hay when we'll
cured, on which all kinds of stock
thrive, and it is we'll adapted for graz
ing, especially for sheep.
Unlike alfalfa, it grows best on thin,
chalky soils, especially if there is rock
about two feet below the surface. AS
Texas affords an abundance of the
soil with the rock attachment, it &C.
Cured to me that esparcette would be
a grand addition to our forage plants
if it could be got to grow. Although
the plant will stand longer spell of
dry weather than alfalfa, when well
rooted, it requires certain favorable
conditions to get it up to that point.
1t, of course, needs moisture to start
it, and as it grows off slowly at tir,t l..
must be sown on clean land or some
protection against grass and weeds
will be necessary.
1t may be sown broadcast and
plowed in when the land is perfectly
clean, but if foul, it should be drilled
and cultivated till it gets good start.
In Europe it is sown in early spring,
and think should be planted about
the same time as spring oats.
Two years ago | planted a small
experimental patch in March on a
piece of very poor chalky land.
1t came up in about two weeks and
seemed like doing we'll, but from some
cause unknown to me, it suddenly
disappeared off the face of the earth
and was seen again no more.
Not satisfied with one test / have
this week planted again on a different
piece OF land, chalky, but not so poor
as the former plant, and hope for bet
ter results.
1t would be a good idea for someone
else to try an experiment.
If it succeeds it will be a mine of
wealth to the Texas farmer and
stockman who has acres of poor land
unfit for any cultivated crop.
JOHNSON GRASS.
| thought every farmer within fifty
miles of Travis county knew enough
about Johnson grass to avoid planting
it, but that there be some still living
in darkness is proved by letter re-
ceived from B. f. OF Littig asking the
best time to plant and amount OF seed
to the acre. b. F. must not have seen
my last reference to Johnson" or
thought | was trying to work OIL a
little joke. | now write in dead earn
est. Johnson grass is one Of the most
unmtigated curses that ever tor
mented the farmer. In its place it is
n valuable grass, but that place is a
thousand miles away from cultivation.
1t is entirely out OF place in or near
any cultivated crop, as it is practically
indestructible and spreads itself in
various uncomfortable ways. Once on
farm it is there TIC stay, as the cost
OF removing it would be enormously
greater than the value of the land. 1t
is more to be dreaded than cookie
burr, ragweed, wiregrass and all the
other vegetable pests put together,
and it should be made felony for
anyone to introduce it into farming
country. b. f. would do wisely to
abandon the idea of planting "John-
son." The following letter, published
in Texas Farm and Ranch of March l
gives the experience of Dallas county
farmer:
Gas l am a farmer and knowing as
much about Johnson grass as | do, |
feel it my duty to warn those who
don't know of the danger there is in
it. | see in Texas Farm and Ranch
of February - some one wanting to
ruin ninty acres of good black land
with Johnson grass. All he has to dc
is to just put half stand i'll on the
ninety acres one year, and | vouch for
him havingi it ruined for good. / could
give him names of over fifty farmers
near Hutchins who, if they could swap
land with him would give five acres
for one, if he has no Johnson grass on
. his. The trouble with Johnson grass
is that it not only ruins the ground il
is sown on, but it gets scattered all
over the country. l have heard men
say that they had killed patches of il
out, but l have my first patch to see