The Savannah morning news., 1902-10-06
THE FARM AND THE GARDEN.
MATTERS OF INTEREST TO HOUSE
WIFE AND AGRICULTURIST

The Mango and Its Fruit-The Truth
About johnson Grass - Sorghum
and Peas a Nice Mixturc-Severnl
Questions Replied to - Poultry
Notes. Etc.
The Mango. Reply TO G: We can
not tell you much about the mango.
having never seen either tree or
fruit of it, Some years ago-along
in the '70s, there was something OF
an effort made in parts of Florida to
grow the mango for commercial pur-
poses, but it is fact. we believe, that
nearly all the trees We're killed by the
freeze of sc. There may be num-
Der of trees still existing in Southern
Florida. 1t is more than likely. If
any of our readers in Florida can give
US any information concerning the
mango and its growth, we should be
very glad to get it.
The mango comes to us from India,
and also from South America and the
West Indies.
We have no doubt there would be
great deal of profit found in the cul-
ture of the fruit in the country where
ever frost is not too severe for the life
of the tree.
1t is on record that mango trees only
six wears old from the seeds have pro-
duced fruit in Florida to the value of
$50 per tree The fruit is said to pos
sess a very pleasing flavor, is of a rich
yellow color, with a red blush, weigh
from a half to a pound. The skin is
quite thin. but rather tough. The tree
is said to be a strong and symmetrical
grower, and individual trees have been
known to yield as many as 5000
mangOes.
johnson Grass, Pet or n BLESSING.
Inquirer asks: "If I were to plant
an acre Con half an acre. of Johnson
Grass on my little farm, would there
be any likelihood of it's spreading to
other land, where it is not wanted
in other words, becoming a pest as bad
as the worst weed. Some have told me
that it is a good grass. while others
claim that It is the worst Of all
grasses. How would you go about it
to lay down an acre to be moved and
carried to the cattle. 1t is good grass
for soling, is it not?"
1T all depends" Johnson Grass
may prove a pest or a blessing, ac-
to exterminate fully when it has once
taken full possession of the land. but
it is by no means impossible to destroy
1t. To ninety-nine farmers in a hundred
this grass should be a bless
ing. If you are at all
ca reful there is no excuse for this grass
spreading beyond the limits first as
Signed it. Now and then a stray seed
may be lifted up and deposited else
y I,-,N II,
controlled, We know whereof we speak,
for we have had it on our small place
having experimental with the grass for
25 years.
johnson grass is better adapted for
meadow than for pasture on all up-
lands, especially. 1t makes such a rank
growth on all moist or bottom lands
it seems as a consequence to suit the
purpose of pasture better than for
me adow or moving.
For hay purposes it is necessary to
seed very literally, allowing at least
one plant to every square foot. Two
would even be better. BY having a
Til ck stand and always moving as fast
as 1t blooms, the hay will be tender
and easily masticated and such hay is
as good as one need have.
There is only a small per cent Of
the seeds hat form that are perfect.
and take them as they come, only a
sn all handful out of a quart will con-
tain a perfect germ.
To insure a perfect stand in an acre
s bushels of the freshest seeds should
be used.
After one has made a start the best
way to enlarge the area is to use roots
of the first planting, planting the pieces
in drills Is or IS inches apart
This grass can be used to excellent
advantage in retaining any rolling or
h:lly land worn out or badly run down,
Plant the roots as just. described lay
ing off burrows on a true horizontal. A
good stand can be gotten on such land
with the roots when it could not read
lily be done with seeds. The cane-like
roots of the grass will bind the soil
together. and their decay
will gradually enrich the soil.
OF course. some manure
or fertilizer must be used to give the
grass a good start off. Two to four
hundred pounds of cotton seed meal
used right in the furrow with the roots
will do this very well. We repeat
that any farmer keeping or raising
any kind of stock and wants a grass
that is sure, that will withstand
drought in summer and cold in winter,
that will make good hay when many
other kinds would fail, that is by no
means a pest if a very little care is
taken, by all means let him have a
few acres in Johnson Grass. An acre
well set in it near any barn near any
town is instrinsically worth a hundred
dollars.
There is no plant probably about
which opinion has so extreme a range
as this. With many, however, this is
mere theory. If it is made proper use
of any properly treated it is an ex-
tremely valuable grass. We wish we