St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1895-09-07

CRAB GRASS.
Better . Naked. Exposed Soil Than Gov.
erlng Of Crab Grass.

s1CAsCE = ENuRe0p ExQO800 SO1l nan . Gov
erlng Of Crab Grass.
1t is fashionable for agricultural
writers and editors to advise farmers
to grow crab grass for hay. In the
light OF our own experience and OBJ
servation, we consider this very bad
advice. As injurious as entire naked
ness during summer is to our soil, W
would prefer nakedness and exposure
to onr summer sun to q covering OF
crab grass. We admit that it makes Z
cheap hay. which is relished by all
kinds of stock, but not so nutritious as
hay from pea vines. and but little
cheaper. when the heavier yield Of pea
vines per acre is considered. There
are three serious objections to growing
crab grass upon our cultivated lands,
viz:
!. 1t stocks the soil with seed, which
will greatly increase the cost OF cult.
vating the crop which is 10 follow, and
if any Of the seed are ripe when the hay
is harvested. the manure from the ami.
mails fed will contain the seed, which
pass through undi0ested and with their
vitality unimpaired on account OF their
small size, and consequently escape
from mastication.
2. 1t leaves the land full of tussocks
Of roots and gives much trouble in the
preparation Of the land for the next
crop. In fact, we rarely see land up
on which a crop Of crab grass grew tho
previuos year half prepared for the
next crop. If it is put in good condi.
tion. the additional labor necessitated
by the presence of the crab grass roots
increases the cost of producing the
next crop.
.. It impoverishes the soil more than
any crop we have ever grown. Ger
man millet is generally considered an
exhaustive crop. but the facts which
we give below show that crab grass 10
far more exhaustive than millet 1t,
being true grass, is nitrogen con-
sumer. Its multitude Of fibrons roots,
parmeating every particle of the soil.
furnishing the means of effecting .
thorough robbery.
While director of the Alabama eye
pertinent station. we decided to COM
pare German millet and crab grass rs
hay producers. We selected two meas
ured acres. which previous cropping
had shown to be Of equal fetility; pre-
pared them alike and applied equal
quantities of the same brand Of COM
mercial manure to the two acres The
only differences In the treatment Of the
two was that German millet seed was
sown upon one and the crab grass al
lowed to grow upon the other.
The yield Of hay upon the two acres
varied only 200 pounds in favor Of the
crab grass, which was cut twice, the
millet once. The next year both acres
were planted to cotton and treated
alike in every respect.
From the germination of the seed to
tho maturity of the crop. the crab grass
acre presented the appearance of an
plot The yield Of cotton
was reduced one-half as the effect OF
the crop of crab grass the previous
year. In our opinion the injury which
= crop of crab grass causes is not con-
pensated for by the value Of the crop
Of hay grown.
Every farmer is familiar with the in
furious effects Of this grass upon grow.
ing crops If they fully appreciated
Its effects upon the subsequent pro.
ductivcness Of the soil. they would put
forth more strenuous efforts to exter.
inmate it.-Cor. Agricultural South.