366 . THE SECONDARY GRASSES 



introduced into South Carolina in 1830, but has since spread by 

 natural means throughout the whole cotton belt. In the past it has 

 generally been regarded as a rather pernicious weed and has very 

 seldom been sown. 



Johnson grass is regarded as a perennial about as far north as 

 Virginia, but winter kills wherever the ground freezes severely. 

 Johnson grass is very drought-resistant and is so persistent that it 

 will succeed in almost any soil. 



Culture. Johnson grass is usually sown at the rate of fifteen to 

 twenty pounds per acre. It produces a rather large yield for two or 

 three years, after which it becomes sod bound, probably due to the 

 large growth of underground roots. It will then make very good 

 pasture, but not growth enough for hay. The sod can be very easily 

 renewed by plowing up, after which the grass will quickly come up 

 and be as vigorous as it was before. In renewing Johnson grass it is 

 also a good practice to fall plow the land and sow to winter oats. 

 After the winter oats have been harvested, the Johnson grass will 

 again take possession of the land. In the South two to three 

 cuttings a season can be made. The yield varies from one to two 

 tons at each cutting. 



It is almost impossible to eradicate Johnson grass when once 

 established, and it should not be sown where it is not desired to keep 

 it permanently or in rotation with a winter grain crop, such as oats. 

 However, where it is well established, it will pay to take care of it, 

 as Johnson grass is a valuable hay and pasture plant for the southern 

 States. 



SOUDAN GRASS 



Soudan grass is very similar to Johnson grass, except that it is 

 an annual and without strong underground root stalks. It can be 

 sown anywhere without fear of infesting the land. Soudan grass 

 was recently introduced from Africa by the United States Depart- 

 ment of Agriculture. It is believed to be the wild form of culti- 

 vated sorghum, with which it crosses very readily. It differs from 

 sorghum in being fine-stemmed and in stooling very freely, so that 

 from twenty to fifty stems may come from a single seed. 



Soudan grass, like millet, makes a very quick growth in hot 



