212 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA EXPERIMENT STATION. 



a very vigorous growth during the summer, but lies dormant during 

 the winter. On the farms the Bermuda grass spreads very rapidly 

 by both seeds and jointed runners, and is very hard to eradicate when 

 once established. By constant cultivation the grass can be kept out, 

 as is done in the orange districts of southern California. It can be 

 eradicated by plowing the land and then letting it go dry all summer. 

 The roots should be kept stirred by cultivation so that they may dry 

 completely. When the moisture content in the soil remains high, 

 however, the roots are apt to live over. On some of the hard Imperial 

 clay lands Bermuda is grown for pasture. It makes fair feed when 

 alfalfa cannot be successfully grown. 



Blue grass (Poa pratensis) grows well during the winter season 

 but does not endure the hot weather well. If care is taken to keep 

 the ground well soaked it will live through the summer but never does 

 well. 



Johnson grass (Sorgum halipense) has proved such a serious pest 

 especially when it becomes established in the ditches and along borders 

 that a strenuous effort is being made by the Horticultural Commis- 

 sioner to exterminate the Johnson grass which is at present in the 

 valley. It has been introduced through seed, but is at present con- 

 fined to about sixty ranches. Two men are hired especially to dig 

 these patches out and to prevent any new growth. By a rigorous 

 inspection of seed, additional importations may be prevented. 



Millet (Choetochloa Italica). Most varieties of millet do fairly 

 well in this section. Very little millet is planted, however, since other 

 forage crops produce better results. It is generally sown during the 

 latter part of the summer and harvested in the fall. Frost kills it 

 about as readily as Indian corn. Pearl millet (Pennisetum spicatum) 

 can be grown successfully in the spring and will make a good growth 

 during the spring and summer. 



Orchard grass (Dactylis glomerata) can be made to grow in 

 Imperial Valley, but it is not suited to the climate and its culture is 

 no longer attempted. 



Para grass (Panicum molle) was introduced into the Valley in 

 1909 and has made a remarkable growth in the few patches where it 

 was planted. It is considered a bad weed in moist tropical countries, 

 although it is used as a pasture grass and for hay. It propagates 

 from the nodes of the stem and consequently is hard to eradicate when 

 once started on wet land; but in an irrigated section it can be dried 

 out by withholding water and cultivating it down. It may prove to 

 be a valuable plant for the hrnli it yiilnnf the valley where alfalfa 



