The Atlanta constitution., 1900-07-09
FARM CORRESPONDENCE.
To Destroy johnson Grass.

Noticing YOUR request in a late number
of The Constitution for me to give your
readers the lest method OF killing john
son grass. L cheerfully comply with one
proviso only. That should ever be call
ed upon trial for public advice in advising
the southern farmer the plan OF killing
his best friend you will defend me as
my attorney.
People who are old enough to read are
pretty certain TO know that there is
right way ana a wrong way for doing
everything.
In attempting TO kill Johnson grass in
the spring and summer is the wrong way.
II viii grow I'm spite of all your labor.
The right way Is as follows: In August
or September after the sap has done It's
work and returns to the root, with
strong team and two-horse plow cultivate
the ground to the depth of six inches
(elght If you cam. throwing the ridges
as high as possible The sun Will melt
away some of the soil and all the roots
exposed will die. To get out all such
roots. with a straight-toothed harrow go
crosswise of the burrows so that all the
roots may be exposed 10 the sun and
destroyed
Tho roots cut off TO the depth Of six
inches below the surface will bleed. and
decay soon follows.
Will never trouble YOU again. Their life
has gone out and death follows as from
a natural cause.
Now to pay YOU for your labor. Sow
a fun crop of wheat barley oats or rye
and pasture in the winter, cut off what
may be left In the spring and make hay
for summer feed. Break up the stubble
and broadcast two bushels of cowi'eas to
the acre. In the fall cut off the peas for
u-h fc a
under for fertilizer. Now follow with
any crop you may choose and If your
work has been well done, your hat viii
hold all the roots you can gather on Il
twenty-acre field. To sum up your
years labor, let Us see what you have aC-
complished. Your deep plowing has killed
the roots. the Winter freezes viii destroy
them again. your cowpeas will so thor
oughly shade the ground that the roots
are thrice killed, Il such thing were
possible Your land has had tho deepest
plowing probably it ever had. your stock
/ a winter pasture. one crop of hay from
the grain. and the cowpeas as a fertilizer
VIII put your ground in better condi-
lion than ever for future crops. why,
this bettermcnt of your ground by deep
/ piowing and the fertilization OF the evil
Will almost warrant your growing the
johnson grass for the good results which
follow the killing of IT. SO far as know
grass is the difficulty OF getting rid of IT.,
which, with the Above plan. is easy.
have yet 10 know of any farmer III Tex
as who has a good meadow of 1t TO plow
II mp 10 grow cotton.
For the farmers benefit let me add, II
the grass is scattered thinly over your
i ace sow more seed at the rate of forty
pounds to he acre and make you Il
meadow Tor growing winter hay. Cut the
grass while m bloom. when IT makes the
best OF hay, II OF equaled by the best
I timothy With thick seeding the stalks
OF grass are fine and in good land the
Yield shoUld b, two tons TO the acre at
each cutting and cutting three or Tour
| crops.
stack well and your hay will be far Su-
perior 10 any northern hay you can buy.
With the modern hay machinery your nay
( ton In the stack or barn. without
/ personal knowledge of the destroying of
l COCO grass, my judgment as TO good way
/ 10 get rid of IL. Iluw deeply with nlSh
/ ridges turn in the aogs 10 eat the roots,
! after which use a STRAIGHTFORWARD harrow
/ to bring all TO the surface and SOW the
I cov-peas heavily. The same process Of
cutt.nl the roots of the Johnson grass
viii, L think, destroy the coco BY pIowlnS
in the winter. J do not speak by eXpe-
Now. Mr.. Reddlng. i Is the next mans
inning. hEkBhhI Iooi'
Fort Worth, Tex D.,
CThe next man viii have hts innings
next week. Editor).