TWO PROMINENT SOUTHERN GRASSES 143 
Johnson grass meadow. Yetsome farmers have a good 
market for the hay or need it on their own farms. It 
is also the belief of the writer that when the agricul- 
ture of the South is properly diversified, a fact which 
is being accomplished rather rapidly at present, John- 
son grass will not be so much of a pest as it now is, 
and may occupy an important place on stock-farms. 
For these reasons it is well to include here a statement 
concerning its usefulness for hay and pasture. 
Johnson grass is not very satisfactory for perma- 
nent pastures. Although stock eat it readily and 
thrive on it, the yield of feed on Johnson grass pas- 
tures decreases rapidly from year to year until it be- 
comes unprofitable. Many farmers say it can bekilled 
out by pasturing in two or three seasons, but there is 
usually enough left to start it again when the land 
is plowed up. When used only for meadow purposes, 
a Johnson grass field can be made permanently pro- 
ductive by proper treatment. Like all grasses that 
throw out abundant rootstocks, it becomes so sod-bound 
in a few years that the yield of hay is greatly lessened. 
To correct this it is necessary to plow the land once 
every two or three years. It may be plowed in either 
fall or spring. Ordinarily it is best to plow the_ 
meadow in early fall and then to harrow it. If this is 
done regularly every two years the meadow remains 
productive as long as the fertility of the land holds 
out. It is to be presumed that it would produce good 
crops indefinitely with proper fertilization. 
Johnson grass seed weighs about 25 lbs. per bushel. 
The usual amount sown is from a bushel to a bushel 
and a half per acre. It may be sown either in spring 
