The ranch. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1902-1914, 1903-12-15
NEW METHOD TO ExTERMINATE
JOHNSON GRASS.
Prof W. ]. Spillman, Department of Agri-
culture

Johnson grass is prODdDly Tie WoloI
weed in the United States, but I'M
like most bad weeds, it can be util-
lied as a crop, at least where hay is
needed. | would not advise any man
to SOW Johnson grass on MS place
unless he already has more or less
of it. In that case, if he wants hay
field. and cannot grow alfalfa, l would
advise him to SOW the seed OF john
son grass at the rate of about half
bushel to the three pecks to the acre.
Land that is free from Johnson grass
should be kept free from it, One OF
the most encouraging things We nave
learned during the past year regard
ing this great pest is that it will not
crowd out a good stand of alfalfa. The
repeated mowings of the alfalfa field
not only keep Johnson grass in check,
but cause it gradually to disappear.
Any farmer who has rich land in
tested with Johnson grass, provided
the land is suitable for alfalfa, will
do we'll to SOW it.
The land should be prepared very
thoroughly in the late summer, and
the alfalfa seed sown not later than
the middle of September, at the rate
of twenty to twenty-five pounds per
acre of good fresh seed. The crop
should be cut at least three times
the first year, whether it is ready for
hay or not, in order to keep Johnson
grass in check. In fact, alfalfa must
be cut each time before Johnson grass
heads out. After the first year it will
not be necessary to pay any attention
to Johnson grass, but simply cut the
alfalfa when it is ready. The mixture
of a small amount of Johnson grass,
or even a considerable amount, in al
falfa hay, provided the Johnson grass
has no seed in it, is no disadvantage
at all Stock will eat it all the more
readily, and it is better balanced
ration than pure alfalfa.
1t is generally believed by farmers
of the cotton growing districts that
on rich alluvial soil Johnson grass can
not be exterminated. Many fine farms
in the south are rendered uns1ghtly
by patches of this grass, scattered
ire gularly over them. These patches
are gradually spreading, both from
roots and from Seed and not a few
fine farms have been abandoned.
Realizing the Importance OF prac-
teal methods of destroying the pest,
the ONCE OIL grass anu lOId5O PAohe
investigations of the United States
department of agriculture undertook
an inquiry into this subject as one OF
it's important lines of work for south
ern farmers. A series of experiments
were arranged on a number OF badly
infested farms. In every case the at
tempt was made to locate the expert
ments on the kind of land on which 1t
is known to be most difficult to handle
Johnson grass, that is, rich, black allu-
vial soil. We had great difficulty in
finding farmers who would carry out
the details of the work properly.
Where directions have been followed
we have decidedly encouraging re-
suits.
This Grass Can Be Eradicated.
In fact, we are ready to state that
Johnson grass can be completely ex-
terminated in single year, if proper
methods are followed. To do this,
however, it is necessary to lose one
crop, and in most cases it would not
be wise to attempt to exterminate the
grass completely on any large area.
By taking small portion at a time,
Johnson grass may be completely ex-
terminated from large farm in few
years; but doubt If it would be wise