For tJie Southeru States. 



I i 



of a third, open 5 lowest flower stamiiiate or sterile, with a long- 

 bent awn below the middle of the back." — Flint.) 



It is widely naturalized and well adapted to a gTeat variety of 

 soils. On saudy, or gravelly soils, it succeeds admirably, grow- 

 ing- two or three feet high. On rich, dry upland it grows from 

 five to seven feet high. It has an abundance ot perennial, long 

 fibrous roots, penetrating deeply in the soil, being therefore less 

 affected by drought or cold, and enabled to yield a lnro;e quantity 

 of foliage, winter and summer. These advantages render it one 

 of the very best grasses for the South, both for grazing (being 

 evergreen) and for hay, admitting of being cut twice a year. It 

 is probably the best winter grass that can be obtained. 



It will make twice as much hay as timothy, and containing a 

 greater quantity of albuminoids, and less of heat producing prin- 

 ciples, it is better adapted to the uses of the Southern farmer, 

 while it exhausts the surface soil less, and may be grazed indefi- 

 nitely, except after mowing. To make good hay it must be cut 

 the instant it blooms, and, after cut, must not be wet by dew or 

 rain, which damages it greatly in quality and appearanee. 



For green soiling, it may be cut four or five times with favor- 

 able seasons. In from six to ten days after blooming, the seeds 

 being to ripen and fall, the upper ones first. It is therefore a 

 little troublesome to save the seed. As soon as those at the top 

 of the panicle ripen sufficiently to begin to drop, the heads should 

 be cut off and dried, when the seeds will all thresh out readily 

 and be matured. After the seeds are ripe and taken off the long 

 abundant leaves and stems are still green, and being mowed, 

 make good hay. 



It may be sown in i>Iarch or April, and mowed the same sea- 

 son 5 but, for heavier yield, it is better to sow in Se])tember or 

 October. Along the more southerly belt, from the 31° parallel 

 southward, it may be sown in 5>Iovember and onward till the 

 middle of December. V\^henever sown it is one of the most cer- 

 tain grasses to have a good catch. Not less than 2 bushels (14 

 pounds) per acre should be sown. Like timothy, on inhospitable 

 soils, the root may sometimes become bulbous. The average 

 annual nutrition yielded by this grass in the Southern belt is 

 probably twice as great as in Pennsylvania and other Northern 

 States. 



JOHNSON GEASS. 



( Sorghum lialapeyise. ) 



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 Johnson 

 grass, and leave the name Guinea grass for the Fanicum jumen- 

 tormn, to which it i)roperly belongs. 



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 than the 

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

 fore, assuredly time to call each by its right name. Johnson 



