The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-03-09
AGRICULTURAL
BERMUDA AND JOHNSON GRASS.

BE RM ODA AMI JOf1N0ON SnA0O'
Lately there have been a number of
inquiries for the information as 10 how
both Bermuda and Johnson Grass may
be killed. While my work Is more de-
voted to giving information for the grow
ing rather than the destruction of crops,
yet, l may be able to give some informa-
ton on the subject. 1t is much easier
to kill out grass than it is to secure
a stand of grass and the general COM
plant from farmers is the trouble that
they experience in getting grasses to grow
on their farms. Grasses like all other
crops should be grown in well regu-
lated rotation of crops and in such ro-
tation it may become necessary to chanSe
the grass fields to other crops when
other crops, such as grain, potatoes, or
cotton may be grown for one or two
years SO that the farmer may reap the
benefit OF the plant food that the soil
may have laid up while in grass; also
that he may prepare the soil for better
crop of grass, which should again follow
other three other crop. AS rule, not
over three othr crops should be grown
on the land between the grass crops.
Where fields of Bermuda or Johnson grass,
or any other grass have from any cause
become thin. ragged or weedy. such fields
should be powed up and the land planted
to some other crop However, in the
cultivation of such other crops we must
not lose sight of the Importance OF keep
ing the soil in a high state of cultiva
;ioE and mighty fertilzcd, so that it Will
be an easy matter 20 secure better stand
of grasses or clovers than We plowed
up The physical condition of the soil
should be carefully looked after for
drainage, su5-soiiing OF lining. One or
all of these may be needed in order to
fit the soil for producing paying crops or
grass.
But this is information for the grow
ing rather than for getting rid or the
grass, so / will proceed now to give some
plans that | have never known to fail In
killing out field of grass. 1 will first
take up the treatment of the Bermuda
Grass In this. as in all other farm OPP
erations, we should be guided by GOOD
Judgment. When we come to deal with
plants, either to grow, feed or TO de-
stroy them we should first know some
thing of the growth habits of the plants,
something of their root as well as top
development. So to kill out a field OF
Bermuda Grass we should take into &C
count that this is a grass which grows
and thrives only in the open air ana
sunshine and it will not grow when shad-
ed for any length Of time. The best plan
for getting rid of 1t will be to shade
and smother it out, as we can more quick
~ get rid of it by this method than we
can by trying to pasture 1t to death OF
by attempting to cultivate 1t to death.
Another very important feature of the
killing process is in growing some proflt-
able crop on the land while we are clear
ing it Of the grass. Again much depends
upon the time when the eradication pro-
cess is to begin.
Fall Best Time.
I will first begin in the fall of the year
which is the best time to commence to
kill out a field of Bermuda grass. Early
In the fall when the grass begins to
turn brown. plow the field, turning over
the sod which should be cut up at once
with a good sharp disc harrow. Sow
the land at once to Tennessee winter
barley winter rye, winter oats or Durum
wheat. In most sections where Bermuda
thrives the Tennessee winter barley would
be preferable. Sow from one and one
half to two bushels per acre. which may
be put in with grain drill or If the
sod is too rough for using a drill, the
grain may be sown broadcast and har-
rowed in, though I would not recommend
this, but rather that the sod be cut up
with a disc and smoothed with smooth
ing harrow 50 that the grain drill may
be used Sow with the barley or other
grains twenty pounds of winter Vetch