MiV 2, 1887.] THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 



73^ 



movement if it should result in the introduction of 

 a flood of dark-skiuned laborers, not hindered by 

 caste prejudices, and probably capable of being 

 trained ta perform manual labour of every descrip- 

 tion. — Planter ani Farmer. 



JOHNSON-GRASS. 



The followiDg letter, received by the Secretary of 

 the Planters' Association from Mr. D. AYilkinsou, 

 accompanying a small packet of the above grass 

 seed, was^read at the meeting of the committee held 

 on Thursday evening last and is now published for 

 general information. It will be noticed that packets 

 of the seed can be obtained from the Secretary 

 upon application to this office. 

 " To the Secretary, 



"Planters' Association. 



" Sir, — Having just received from the Depart- 

 ment of Agriculture, U. S. America, a small quantity 

 of 'Johnson Grass' Sorghvm Hodapeuse seed, I beg 

 herewith to forward a packet for distribution through 

 your Association to stock breeders and those inter- 

 ested in the improvement of pasturages in the 

 colony by the introduction of suitable grasses. Per- 

 haps I ought lo state something of the histoiy 

 and how I obtained the seed of this very highly 

 recommended species, and for general information, 

 what is known of it. 



" In reading the Australian in America (by Mr. 

 Dow, special correspondent of the Melbovrne Leader, 

 a book full of useful and interesting information) 

 in the chapter on ' Grasses, ' Mr. Dow says : — ' The 

 Johnson-grass has strong, vigorous roots, like sugar- 

 cane, and has an abundance of long broad leaves. 

 It grows to a considerable height when cultivated 

 for hay on bottom lands, while it thrives well as a 

 pasture grass on the up-lauds, being hardy and 

 resists drought. ' Acting on his recommendation 

 that 'any person desirous of trying any of these 

 special grasses described .should apply to the Bot- 

 anist of the Agricultural Department of State, Wash- 

 ington. ' I received a most prompt and courteous 

 reply with some of the seed from F. C. Nesbitt 

 Esq. , the Actina; Commissioner of the Department, 

 who says : — ' I shall be pleased to send vou a large 

 quantity, but am forced to restrict my.self to a small 

 quantity by mail only, which I hope will reach you 

 safely and prove to be the nucleus of supplying a 

 valuable forage plant to your colony. ' From the 

 same authority the grass is thus described : — ' It 

 is a perennial rapid grower, having long cauH-like roots. 

 or more properly, underground stems, every joint of 

 which is capable of developing a bud. These liler- 

 ally fill the ground. Short pieces of roots planted 

 in rows two feet apart and from one to two feet 

 in the row quickly form a sod over the entire sur- 

 face. It is exceedingly difficult to eradicate. Do 

 not sow or plant whers you expect to cultivate the 

 land. Some plantations of .Johuson-prass are more 

 valuable, acre for acre, than the best cotton land. One 

 bushel of seed (28 lb.) is sufficient for an acre. Brush in 

 the s«ed or use the roller, as it must be covered lightly. 

 For h;iy, cut it as often as it obtains the height 

 of 24 to 30 inches. On good soil it yields from two 

 to three tons per acre and can be cut three times 

 duriiig the summer in the Gulf States. It is not re- 

 gar ded as being hardy north of where cotton is 

 successfully grown.' lu a note just received from 

 Mr. Holmes, whose practical knowledge as well as the 

 time and careful attention he has devoted to the suc- 

 cefsful introduction and cultivation of useful grasses 

 at once constitute him an authority, he says : — ' I have 

 sown a little of your 'Johnson-grass' to test its 

 soundness, but I have little doubt about it as the seed 

 is hard and glossy. It is a groat acquisition to our 

 grasses if half what they say of it be true. The oulv 

 doubt in my mind is whether a grass tliab stands such 

 frosts in Kansas. &c , will equally thrive under our 

 tropical sun. Still the geuus Soiyhiim is, as a rule, quite 

 at home in hot countries.' 



" Perhaps I ought to apologise for this intrusion 

 * t being a member of your Association, but hope 



some of your members and perhaps others may be 

 disposed to try and prove whether this grass is adapt- 

 ed to our climate and soils and that it may assist 

 in some degree in the permanent improvement of our 

 stock pastures,— I have &c., 



*' p. Wilkinson." 



—Fiji Times. 



OLIVE CULTURE IN CALIFORNIA. 



The following extracts are taken from the recent work 

 on the olive by Mr. Cooper, San Francisco : — The common 

 and preferred method of propagating the olive is to 

 plant the cuttings, taken from the growing trees of 

 sound wood, from three-quarters of an inch in diameter 

 to one and a half incti, and from 14 to Itl inches 

 long. These cuttings should be taken from the trees 

 during the months of December and January, neatly 

 trimmed, without bruising, and carefully trenched in 

 loose, sandy soil, a shady place preferred. They should 

 be planted in permanent sites from February 20tli 

 to March 20th, depending upon the season. The 

 ground should be well prepared and sufficiently dry, 

 so that there is no mud, and the weathsr warm. In 

 Santa Baraba, near the coast, no irrigation i.s necessary, 

 but very frequent stirring of the top soil with a hoe or 

 iron rake for a considerable distance around the cut- 

 tings is necessary during the spring and summer. 

 About three-fourths of all that are well planted will 

 grow. My plan is to set them 20 feet apart each 

 way, and place them in the ground butt end down, 

 and at an angle of about 45 degrees, the top to 

 the north, barely coverel. Mark the place with a 

 stake. By planting them obliquely, the bottom end 

 will be from 10 inches to 1 foot below the surface. 

 In Europe the trees are planted from 27 to '.i'd feet 

 apart. Aly reasons for closer planting will be given 

 in a subsequent article. All trees, as a rule, should be 

 propagated from seads. The roots are more symmetri- 

 cal, the tree not so liable to be blown over, and the 

 growth more healthful ; but I have not been successful 

 in germinating them, hence I recommend the cutting. 

 If the trees are propagated from seeds, budding or 

 grafting is necessary. I have seen the statement 

 that it was necessary that the seeds should pass 

 through the stomachs of birds before they could be 

 sprouted, also that by soaking in strong lye the sprout- 

 ing would be secured. I have not seen the result 

 of either experiment, and accept the statement with 

 more or less distrust. I presume cuttings can be obtained 

 from any of the Mission orchards in the southera 

 counties. 



Pbuning. — The cutting will throw up numerous shoots 

 or sprouts, all of which should be left to gruw the first 

 year. Any disturbance of the top affects the growth of the 

 roots, it would be advisable, however, where there are two 

 or more vigorous shoots of about the same size and 

 height from the same cutting, to pinch the tops of 

 all excepting the one to be left for the future tree, 

 so as to throw more force and vigour into that one. 

 In the following spring, when the ground is warm 

 and sufficiently dry, all sprouts excepting the one to 

 be preserved should be carefully removed by the 

 aid of a sharp saw. A post should be firmly plant- 

 ed, so that the tree can be well secured to keep 

 the trunk .straight and- avoid any disturbance of the 

 roots, and should be kept until the tree is four or 

 five years old. By adopting this method, a great deal 

 of time will be saved and better trees secured. The 

 lateral branches should be allowed to grow until the 

 tree is two or three years old, but in every case, 

 when any of the said branches are rapidly making 

 wood, they should be removed, and lu.t allovveil to 

 rob the trunk. 



In the pruning during the first years, have only the 

 one object in view, that is, to force all the woody 

 growth into one main trunk. This being done, the 

 tree will naturally form a beautiful shape. The cul- 

 itvator mu.'^t not look at the tree of to-day or to-morrow, 

 but the tree of 10 years hence. All branches to the 

 height of five to five and a-half feet should be re- 



oved, so as to admit of close cultivation by horses. 



