118 FARMER'S BOOK OF GRASSES 



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ANALYSIS OF ASH. 



Potassium, 6.74 Phosphoric acid, 2.35 



Potassium oxide, 16.84 Silicic acid, 61.55 



Calcium oxide, 2.92 Chlorine, 6.11 



Magnesium oxide, 1.36 



Sulphuric acid, 2.13 300.00 



This plant ranges from 3 to 6 high including the pani- 

 cle one or two feet long. The other two species are smaller. 

 Although Mr. Collier says: "This grass has not usually been 

 considered of much agricultural value, but it forms an import- 

 ant part of the native grass of the western prairies, and if cut 

 early, forms good and nutritious hay," it can be substituted, 

 even in the poorest sandy soils where it grows, by better grasses. 

 It, like the andropogons or broom grasses, is remarkable rather 

 for the small quantity of soluble nutritive matter and the ex- 

 traordinary quantity of silicic acid it contains. 



SORGHUM HALAPENSE, Johnson Grass. 



This has been called Cuba grass, Guinea grass, Egyptian 

 grass, Means grass, Alabama Guinea grass etc. 



It seems pretty well agreed now however, to call this John- 

 son grass and leave the name Guinea grass for the Panicum 

 jumentorum, to which it properly belongs. (See pp. 98-100). 

 It is true that in .Mr. Howard's pamphlet, as well as in many 

 periodicals and books and in letters and common usage this 

 grass has been far more generally called Guinea grass\han the 

 true Guinea grass itself, thus causing vast confusion. It is 

 therefore assuredly time to call each by its right name. John- 

 son grass is perennial and has cane-like roots or more properly 

 underground stems from the size of a goose quill to that of the 

 little finger. These roots are, tender, and hogs are fond of, and 

 thrive on them in winter. The roots litteral- 

 ly fill the ground near the surface and every joint is capable of 

 developing a bud. Hence the grass is very readily propagated 

 from root cuttings. It is also propagated from the seed, but 

 not always so certainly ; for in some localities many faulty seeds 

 are produced, and in other places no seed are matured. Before 

 sowing the seed, therefore, they siiould be tested, as should all 

 grass seeds indeed, in order to know what proportion will ger- 

 minate, and thus what quantity per acre to sow. One bushel 

 of a good sample of this seed is sufficient for one acre of land. 



The leaf, stalk and panicle of this grass resemble those of 

 other sorghums. It grows on any land where corn will grow ; and 

 like the latter, the better the land, the heavier the crop. On 

 rich land the culrns attain a size of over half an ii.ch in diame- 

 ter and a height of seven feet. It should be cut while tender ; 

 and then all live stock are fond of it ; for a few weeks are suffi- 



