Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-07-31
INQUIRY DEPARTMENT.
pestroYlna Johnson erass.


r A Sease. Captola Cal would like
IL you have space in your paper TO pub
fish a short article on Johnson grass,
although I am not a subscriber TO your
paper but a reader. have seen several
times the question asked how TO de-
stroy Johnson grass" Well, had ten
acre field Of good land. the clay is from
s 10 10 inches deep and the grass has had
possession Of ii for several years and
the former owner could not destroy IT.
But 1 beg to state that there is not a
single stalk'in the field now This is the
way I worked IL. ] broke the land deep
with a 6-inch half shovel and waited
until IL rained. 1 then went in the field
and got every root that could be found
and carried them out Of the field, letting
the land stand until the Sth OF April,
when I prepared il for cotton. I again
got every root TO be found, and planted
cotton on the 18th OF April, and all the
grass left in the field was then up
When the cotton was ready TO be chop
ped the grass was from to 10 inches
high, while the cotton was strong and
fine. While my hands were chopping the
cotton had them dig as long as piece
OF the grass roots could be found on the
rows and also in the middles. gave II
a straight grubbing and left IL for two
weeks. The cotton and grass then pre-.
scented the appearance Of perfect
lawn.
gave the field a second fgrubbing.
blowing deeply all the time.
At the third hoeing and blowing there
was but little grass and the cotton fine.
Then the middle Of June / run over the
field with the hoe and did not find two
dozen punches Of grass In the field.
have Just finished blowing the field the
last time and did not find a single bunch
OF grass, and where the most rank spots
OF grass were I find the cotton is much
larger, greener and fuller. some Of II
viii make me q bale 10 the acre. My
neighbors said I would never destroy IL,
but they have changed now. 1t is the
first experience ever had In the matter
but I think IL a good one.
Some may think II a big Job to dig IL
out but have learned a lesson by Dig
ging. as believe in deep cultivation any
way, and while you are killing out the
grass you are doing your crop anywhere
from Is to 80 per cent more good, and
will make Il yield g per cent better. 1t
thoroughly pulverizes the soil and will
do the crop as much good as two deep
plowings. I viii never dread Johnson
grass any more, as IL Is not so bad after
all. II a man makes up his mind to get
rid of IT. IL this does not happen to
find its way TO the waste basket. and
any OF the readers would like further in
formation, I will be pleased to answer
all communications on the subject.
July DO 1900.
Note by Editor: II has never been
denied that Johnson grass or any other
kind of grass or obnoxious weed could
not be eradicated by the process pursued
by our correspondent. Johnson grass.
nut grass and Bermuda grass can all
be destroyed in one season by persistent
ly grubbing up the roots and removing
them from the field. The great trouble is
that most farmers want to get rid OF
their troubles without so much time and
labor expended. The usual plans pur-
sued will not destroy these grasses, but
persistency will accomplish almost any
undertaking.