Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1901-05-24
FARMER ANDPLANTER.
ABOUT JOHNSON GRASS.
The Government View IL That II
Has Both Good and bad
Qualities,

Qualities.
This grass has been in cultivation
IN this country since about 1880, and
is now quite generally distributed
through the gulf states. vt 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 it is at
the same time one of the most valu-
able hay grasses and the most trou-
blesome and pestiferous weed. AS
pasture grass it has but little value,
as it begins its 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 pillow. Its greatest value is as a
hay grass, and for that purpose 1t can
not be eXcelled. On land which is
suited to its growth it will give at
least three cuttings annually, and
make n 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 it
state that it is the best hay they can
find, but it is rarely fed in stables
where there is a 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 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
sweet clover with it, as the latter
makes its 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 with
which it spreads to fields where it is
not wanted, and the great difficulty
in Graduating it when it has become
established. 1t will soon almost dis
appear when fields are pastured, but
the roots remain alive and will again
take possession of the field as soon
as it is plowed. Instances are known
where fifteen and even twenty years
of continuous pasturing have failed
to produce any appreciable effect on
the vitality Of the roots. When there
are only occasional small patches of
it in field they can be destroyed by
hoeing and covering with salt to the
depth of half an inch, but when it
covers any considerable portion of a
field the only practicable method of
killing it is by weekly hoeings con-
tinued from early spring until late
summer. On sandy soils it can be
readily killed in this manner, but on
heavy clay or black lands the work
is more difficult and will require a
longer time. In any case, the fields
should be watched constantly for
plants which are almost sure to make
their appearance from seeds washed
in from adjoining felds,or dropped by
birds, cattle or passing teams. 1t is SC
difficult to eradicate that Il is rarely
advisable to SOW it on clean land, but
if it is already established on the lanc
il is often better to encourage it thar
to fight it, as a heavy crop of gooc
hay is more profitable than an ordi-
nary crop of either corn or COTTON
Tx. United States Farmers Bulletin.