St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1902-03-29
FARMER AND PLANTER.
ABOUT JOHNSON GRASS.
4 Forage Plant About Which There
IL Diversity of Opinion
Among Farmers. 49,

4 Forage Plant About Which There
IL Diversity of Opinion
Among Farmers.
The discussion which has been 60
ing on for some time, shows that
there is great diversity OF opinion
about the value of johnson grass
We give space to all sides OF this
subject, because of it's Importance. II
johnson grass has all the good quail
ties claimed for it, it is one OF the
most valuable crops that can De
grown. On the other hand it is brand
ed by some as the worst pest that
can be introduced upon a southern
farm.
Somebody must be mistaken. Both
can hardly be right. 1t is important
to find the truth. The Cultivator has.
no prejudice in this matter. Its mis-
sion is to get at the truth and help
it's readers to find all that is good
and detect all that is bad.
We desire to call attention to FEW
facts about the habits of growth and
the laws of propagation of johnson
grass. These may help all parties to
a better understanding. johnson
grass spreads in two ways. The seed
come up well and are easily distribu-
ted. Birds and cattle scatter them,
and they grow upon almost any kind
Of soil. Of course they grow much
more vigorously on rich soil.
The roots or underground shoots
are full of joints. Each joint has the
power to put out numerous roots and
send up numerous sprouts.
Breaking or cutting these large
roots does not kill or destroy them.
Each piece can start new bunch OF
grass. From this we see that shall
low blowing cultivates and spreads
the grass very rapidly.
From these two sources combined
we see how the grass may very readl-
ly and rapidly spread upon any farm
if the owner is little careless or ig-
norant. His very efforts to destroy
it often result in helping to spread it.
For this reason, many consider 1t q
pest. They dread its appearance up
on the farm.
Can it be destroyed? II so, how?
This is the burning question with
many. We wish to say first: It you
do not wish it to spread then do not
suffer it to make seed. This can east
ly be done.
Secondly, we say do not spread the
roots by using shallow running
plows.
Thirdly, we call attention to the
fact that johnson grass is species
of cane. That like all this family OF
plants its large roots can not live
and grow, unless the tops grow. Like
all the green-leaved plants, persist
ent destruction of the leaved plants
will prevent the development Of new
root joints and kill the old ones. Two
years is usually the limit of their
life. Any method that will prevent
the growth of the tops for two years
will kill the roots.
This can be done by close pastur-
ing for two or three years.
It has been done. It can be done.
In many places on poor soil John
son grass can be destroyed with two
horse plows and fine-toothed har-
rows used in December and January.
The roots are easily killed by cold.
But on rich soil or bottom land the
roots will likely be too deep for this
method to entirely exterminate
them.
There are some places, where 1t 10
almost impossible to destroy Ber-
muda grass. So there may be locali-
ties, where the peculiar soil condi-
tions make it extremely difficult to
get rid of johnson grass. But these
are the exceptions and not the rule.
In large parts Of the south, John
son grass is easily managed and pro-
duces large yields of excellent hay,
and furnishes good pastures.
The trouble is not with the grass,
but with our methods of dealing with
it. In all such cases we should study
the habits Of the plant in question.
Cotton abused has proven great
curse to southern farming. Cotton
understood and rightly used is q
great boon and an incalculable bless
ing.
There is more in the man than In
the plants Intelligence is the great
est need Of southern agriculture.
Johns0n grass understood and
rightly used is great blessing. Mis-
understood and misused it may be-
come real pest.
We think we may consider the fol-
lowing points as proven by numerous
experiments:
/. johnson grass, II cut before it
heads, makes good hay, and yields
more per acre than any grass.
2. It spreads both from seed and
roots. If not allowed to seed it
spreads very slowly. # not plowed