36 THE MONTHLY BULLETIN. 



By cutting them when they first appear, and Iveeping persistently 

 at it, they are finally eradicated. The common morning-glory, for 

 example, draws upon the starch in its underground stem to send up the 

 new shoots. As these shoots are repeatedly cut the starch supply 

 becomes exhausted and soon ceases to grow. Cuttings should be made 

 just below the surface of the ground. This is very important. Deep 

 plowing only serves to break up the underground stems, and scatter 

 them over wider territory. 



Johnson grass— Sorghum halepense — is the most noted example of the 

 root-stock class. It is found all over the state, and constitutes one of 

 our worst pests. It belongs to the sorghum family and has a strong, 

 creeping root system running underground, often developing tubers. 



To eradicate Johnson grass before it gets a hold in the country, keep 

 all weeds down when the^' are in the seedling stage. Before the root- 

 stock has formed it is like any annual, and is killed by cutting. To 

 eradicate it after it has gained a foothold in the country it must be 

 dug up and burned. This seems to be the only proven method. It 

 has been tried out in several counties of the state and found good. 

 Slipshod methods will, however, be time wasted, for the roots are more 

 persistent in California soil than those of almost any other plant. 



Some experiments have been made with chemical poisons for these 

 weeds, but such methods are only in the experimental stages. Liquid 

 weed killer "Dinamine" has been experimented with in Imperial 

 County, and seems to be very satisfactory. The test plots showed after 

 one year the complete absence of Johnson grass. Some have tried car- 

 bon bisulphid on weeds. Good results were obtained as far as killing 

 went, but it went too far, taking both weeds and cultivated plants in the 

 immediate vicinity. 



It is not my intention at this time to give a list of weeds generally 

 found in California, and their methods of control. I want simply to 

 aid in the great movement being made all over the country to awaken 

 the land owner to the importance of this great menace, and the necessity 

 for active cooperation in control ; to lessen the tribute paid annually to 

 the god of carelessness, and to turn that waste into fruitfulness, for the 

 conservation of our natural resources and the uplmiiding of the com- 

 munity. 



