The Forrest City times. [volume] (Forrest City, Ark.) 1871-1919, 1901-07-12
FARMER AND PLANTER.
ABOUT JOHNSON GRASS.
A Useful Forage Plant. Hut Hard to
Eradicate AZ One should
Tire of Ii.

This grass is a native of the Medi-
terranean region. 1t was introduced
into the southern states about 1890
and for some time was known by the
name of Means grass, which name il
still retains in some localities. About
ten years later it was introduced into
Alabama from South Carolina by Will
lam johnson, and has since been quite
generally known as Johnson grass. It's
botanical name is Andropogon hale
pensis, or Sorghum halpense.
johnson grass has received consid-
cradle attention in Kansas lately. 1t
has been grown in the plots of the
Kansas experiment station for several
seasons and its behavior in our clim-
ate tested. II is rank-growipg
perennial, with numerous strong.
rather fleshy, creeping rootstocks, by
which it propagates. The stems and
leaves are coarse, but quite succulent.
1t seeds abundantly, and seed can be
purchased at all seed houses. If the
seed is clean, about one bushel to the
acre is sufficient for sowing. johnson
grass is used chiefly for hay, for
which purpose it should be cut early.
before the stems become too old and
hard. Usually two or three cuttings
can be made. The seed should not be
sown until the ground is warm or it
will not terminate well. johnson
grass prefers rich, moist soil, though
it will grow in quite variety of soils.
1t is injured by severe winters, but the
cold winter of 1S9s-9o did not entire
ly kill out the experiment plot, and it
quickly recovered from the effects of
the cold. 1t is not a success as
pasture grass, as it is injured by graz
ing to such an extent that pasture
soon becomes useless, yet the vitality
of the rottstocks is such that it is
never entirely killed out in this way.
and after a rest soon RECEIVERS from
the effects.
Throughout the south under proper
conditions, it is considered an excel
lent hay grass, and in all parts of
Kansas where there is sufficient moist
ure it will undoubtedly be valuable
for the same purpose.
However, it is exceedingly difficult
to eradicate the grass on land where
it has obtained foothold. and for
this reason it may become pestifer-
GUS weed. Hogs are rather fond of
the rootsJocks, and when confined up
on a plot of grass will destroy it. But
on soil adapted to it's growth it re
quires great care to eradicate it. If
one wishes to grow Johnson grass,
the best plan is to devote a field to
the purpose without expecting to sub
sequently put the field in cultivation
With care it can be confined to this
field. After a few years the ground
becomes so full OF rootstocks that
the development is hindered. To re-
juvenate field it should be plowed
and narrowed in the spring, or else
thoroughly disked.
All these points should be careful
ly considered before the grass is tried
As forage grass it may prove of
great value, and the fact that it is
difficult to eradicate may be in its
favor in those parts of Kansas where
it is not easy to grow forage plants
successfully. But if tried, great care
should be taken to keep it under con-
trol.-A. s. Hitchcock, in Kansas EA-
pertinent Station bulletin.