152 POPULAR ERRORS. 



in this country under a false name as those of a 

 new ornamental plant. 



Green Valley Grass. Under this and other 

 names the well known Johnson Grass (Sorghum 

 halepense) has been extravagantly praised, and the 

 seed sold at correspondingly high prices. The 

 grass is not hardy in the north, and needs to be 

 grown with caution at the south, as when once 

 planted in a favorable soil, it is very difficult to 

 eradicate. It yields a large amount of rather 

 coarse hay. 



Honey Blade Grass. In 1859, a few years after 

 Hungarian Grass was introduced into this country, 

 the seed was sold at extravagant prices under the 

 above name by certain New York and St. Louis 

 dealers. In this case comparatively little harm 

 was done, as the swindle was soon exposed, and 

 the grass itself was a valuable one, with which 

 every farmer should become acquainted. 



Wlllard's Brome Grass, In the chapter on 

 wheat turning to chess will be found an account of 

 the introduction of chess as a forage plant under 

 the above name. The fact that this vile weed 

 received the endorsement of eminent agricultural 

 writers and several leading agricultural journals 

 shows the importance of a practical knowledge of 

 botany to farmers and those who attempt to give 

 agricultural information. 



