250 GRASSES AND HOW TO GROW THEM. 



fodder may be reaped on the same land early in the 

 season with more or less frequency and two cuttings of 

 Johnson grass at a later period. 6. Swine can obtain 

 much food from its roots. 



The weak points of Johnson grass are : 1. It will not 

 grow satisfactorily in a cold climate. 2. Although 

 stock are fond of it as pasture, close and continued 

 gTazing soon lessens its productiveness, but does not 

 entirely remove it. 3. Where it has been grown it is 

 likely to continue to gi'ow more or less among crops 

 sown subsequently and to their serious injury. 4. Un- 

 der favorable conditions for growth it is almost impos- 

 sible to eradicate it. 



Disirihutio7i. — Johnson grass is native of western 

 Asia. It also thrives well in northern Africa and 

 southern Europe. It was introduced into the United 

 States as already stated in 1835. 



This grass is adapted only to climates that are rea- 

 sonably warm. It will not grow at all satisfactorily 

 under conditions where the frost penetrates the ground 

 to any considerable extent, as do-wa to the bottom of 

 the frost line, it is claimed, the roots will perish. In 

 latitudes where the roots are thus injured but not de- 

 stroyed to their full depth, the growth that foUows from 

 below the frost line is late and unsatisfactory. Even in 

 the southern states the growth in the spring is relatively 

 late and slow, and with the first frost of autumn it 

 ceases to grow. The hope, therefore, which some ranch- 

 men have cherished, viz., that it will succeed in the cold 

 areas of the semi-arid belt is never likely to be realized. 

 It will stand dry weather well when once established, 



