The Grasses 285 



is off. The only thing that can subdue it is hard pasturing. 

 I have seen pastures in Mississippi where the whole coun- 

 try was covered with Johnson grass in which there was 

 nothing left but Bermuda grass, the pasturing having 

 driven the Johnson grass out completely. But in sections 

 where Johnson grass has not yet appeared, I would not 

 advise its introduction, since there are grasses that are of 

 value in the South which can be kept within bounds, while 

 the Johnson grass cannot be restrained from taking the 

 whole farm. Where it has become estabhshed the only 

 thing for the farmer is to make the best use of the abundant 

 forage it affords. 



I was struck at the Mississippi Agricultural College with 

 the fact that alfalfa seemed to hold its own among the 

 Johnson grass. I was shown there a plot of alfalfa with 

 Johnson grass towering above it, but at the time of my 

 visit in July, they informed me that the plot had been cut 

 three times and was about ready for the fourth cutting, 

 and that the presence of the Johnson grass enabled them 

 to cure the hay more readily and that the mixture made 

 a very valuable hay. With alfalfa flourishing in spite of 

 the Johnson grass, that section certainly has a forage crop 

 that should make stock raising a very successful pursuit, 

 and stock raising is the greatest need of the Southern 

 farms. In many cases the entire farms have been aban- 

 doned to the grass and the owners are devoting their whole 

 attention to cattle and very profitably too. Therefore, while 

 I would not advise the introduction of this grass into a grain 

 or cotton section,! am ready to admit its great value as a for- 

 age crop, but I would prefer to grow what I wanted and not 

 be compelled to grow a crop that pushes itself everywhere. 



