260 TPIE MONTHLY BULLETIN. 



pencil, being- about three-sixteenths of an inch in diameter. If 

 grown in rows and cultivated it reaches a height of 6 to 9 feet, 

 and the stems are larger than usual, being about one-fourth of an 

 inch in diameter. The panicle is loose and open, very much like 

 that of Johnson grass, but a little larger and a trifle more com- 

 pact. The hulls, or glumes, are awned and when in flower often 

 purplish in color. This color usually fades to a light yellow 

 when ripe. The awns are broken off in thrashing, so that the 

 commercial seed rarely has them. The leaves are broader and more 

 numerous than those of Johnson grass, giving the grass a much more 

 favorable appearance as a hay plant, the most important differ- 

 ence, however, is that the aggressive underground stems, or root- 

 stocks, with which Johnson grass is etjuipped, are entirely absent 

 in Sudan grass." 



In certain parts of Central and INIiddle West Sudan grass will 

 undoubtedly become a leading hay plant, because of its enormous 

 tonnage per acre and its admiral)le feeding rpialities. It compares 

 under irrigation very favorably with alfalfa in tonnage. In regard to 

 this Mr. Vinall states: "Its value in alfalfa growing communities will 

 no doubt depend very largely on its ability to furnish a change of feed 

 without loss of tonnage." Tests made at several points in southern 

 Oregon, California and Arizona have shown that under irrigation 

 Sudan grass will yield from seven to nine tons of cured hay. 



There is, however, an important reason why great care should be 

 exercised in introducing Sudan grass into Califin*nia. The danger 

 lies in the similarity of the seed to that of Johnson grass. It is almost 

 an impossibility to separate a mixture of the two, and it is a known 

 fact that part of the Sudan grass seed sent into this State has Johnson 

 grass in it. I auain quote from Mr. VinalTs paper: 



"The seed of Sudan grass resembles Johnson grass very closely, 

 except that it is larger and more plump. It is only through a 

 critical examination that they can lie distinguished, and this fact 

 emphasizes the importance of growing the two grasses separately. 

 The adulteration of Sudan grass seed would be an easy matter, but 

 the chief danger doubtless lies in accidental admixture through the 

 production of seed on fields infested with Johnson grass. To avoid 

 this it would be advisable when the seed becomes abundant to use 

 only that produced in the north, beyond the Johnson grass area. 

 It is likely that in time, as the demand becomes more permanent 

 and the farmers are educated to ask for seed from a section of the 

 country known to be free from Johnson grass, there will be definite 

 areas devoted to Sudan grass seed production, just as there are 

 regions devoted to the production of German millet and Kentucky 

 bluegrass seed." 



The Johnson grass problem in California is already a very serious one. 

 Thousands of dollars have been spent in its attempted control and much 

 good literature has been written on how to get rid of it. Still the ])est 

 remains as one of our woi>;t enemies. The spread has ])een somewhat 

 retarded in the past, due to the fact that the young seedlings do not 

 develop the rootstocks at once and have been killed with the spring 

 cultivation. Advance has been largely through carelessness and by 



