SOUTHERN GRASSES 245 



292. Adaptation and utilization. Johnson-grass is 

 adapted to the whole region in which cotton culture is 

 carried on, and also New Mexico, Arizona and California. 

 It grows well during the summer north of latitude 37, 

 but in cold winters is usually destroyed. In favorable 

 years it lives over winter in Iowa and the District of 

 Columbia. It grows in all types of soil, but prefers rich 

 land and an abundant supply of moisture. 



This plant can scarcely be called a cultivated grass, as 

 when once planted it is difficult to eradicate, and therefore 

 it is rarely sown intentionally. Indeed in regions where it 

 does not occur, great care is taken to keep it out. Where, 

 however, it is established, it is abundantly utilized both 

 for hay and for pasture. On good soil two crops and some- 

 times three may be cut in one season. Johnson-grass 

 quickly becomes " sod bound," and unless plowed up 

 every year, or at least every two years, the yield becomes 

 very small. Just why the grass becomes " sod bound " is 

 not clear, but perhaps it is connected with the great devel- 

 opment of rootstocks. 



Where Johnson-grass is very abundant, a common plan 

 is to plow in fall and plant to oats or oats and vetch. 

 After this crop is removed, two good crops of Johnson-grass 

 hay are. usually obtained the same season. 



North of the south line of Virginia and Kentucky there 

 is no good reason why Johnson-grass should not be utilized 

 as an annual crop. Sown in the spring, it produces a 

 large crop of hay and nearly always is killed in the winter. 

 At Arlington Farm, Virginia, it has several times been 

 planted in mixtures with cowpeas, for which purpose it 

 is well adapted. It is rare that any of the grass survives 

 the winter. 



Johnson-grass probably produces more of the hay grown 



