The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1901-06-08
FARMER AND PLANTER.
ABOUT JOHNSON GRASS.
phe Government View fl That IL
Has Both Good and Bad
Qualities.

In this country since about 1880, and
Is now quite generally distributed
through the gulf states. 1t grows
best on the rich and heavy lime soils
of the black-prairie region and along |
the creek bottoms of the yellow
loan region, and is rarely seen in the
pine-woods region near the coast. In
localities where it grows well 1T is at
the same time one of the most vaiu-
able hay grasses and the most trou-
blesome and pestiferous weed. AS q
pasture grass it has but little value,
as it begins it's growth late in the
season, and the tops are killed by the
first heavy frost in autumn. Its large
and flesh rootstocks are near the sur
face, and are SO injured by tram
ping that the grass soon almost who'll
ly disappears from the fields, though
there is always enough left to restock
the land when it is again brought UNI
der the plow. Its greatest value is as
hay grass, and for that purpose it can
not be excelled. On land which is
suited to it's growth it will give at
least three cuttings annually, and
make a total yield of from three to
five tons per acre. The hay is coarse
and not attractive in appearance, but
stock of all kinds eat it greedily,
seeming to prefer it to any other
hay. Liverymen who have used 1T
state that it is the best hay they can
find, but it is rarely fed in stables
where there is ready sale for the
manure, for the seeds spread the
grass wherever the manure may be
used. But If the hay is cut, as it
should be, before the heads appear,
the manure from it can do no harm.
When cultivated for hay the roots
form such q dense mat in three or
four years that the yield is much
lessened. The ground should then be
plowed and thoroughly narrowed dur
ing the winter or early spring, after
which the grass will make a growth
as vigorous as ever. The yield of
hay is largely increased by sowing
fsweet clover with it, as the latter
makes it's first growth SO early in the
spring as to afford an additional cut
ting, while its deep biennial roots
serve to keep the soil in much bet
ter chemical and mechanical condi.
ton.
The objections to the cultivation OF
Johnson grass are the rapidity will
which it spreads to fields where it il
not wanted, and the great difficulty
in Graduating it when it has become
established. 1t will soon almost dis
appear when fields are pastured, bu
the roots remain alive and will again
take possession of the field as sool
| as it is plowed. Instances are know
where fifteen and even twenty year
of continuous pasturing have faile'
to produce any appreciable effect OF
the vitality of the roots. When Their
are only occasional small patches o
it in a field they can be destroyed b.
hoeing and covering with salt to tn
depth of half an inch, but when
covers any considerable portion of
field the only practicable method o
killing it is by weekly hoeings cor
tinued from early spring until lat
summer. On sandy soils it can b
readily killed in this manner, but o
heavy clay or black lands the wor
is more difficult and will require
longer time. In any case, the field
should be watched constantly flo
plants which are almost sure to max
their appearance from seeds washe
in from adjoining fields.or dropped b
birds, cattle or passing teams. 1t is s
difficult to eradicate that it is rarel
= advisable to SOW it on clean land, bl
. If it is already established on the Ian
it is often better to encourage it tina
to fight it, as heavy crop of GOO
hay is more profitable than an ord
nary crop OF either corn or cottonx
Ex. United States Farmers Bulletil