Itis true that in Mr. Howard’s painph- | 
let, as well as in many periodicals and 
books, and in lettersand common usage, 
this grass has been far more generally | 
called Guinea grass than the true Guinea | 
grass itself, thus causing vast confusion. | 
It is, therefore, assuredly time to call 
each by its right name. Johnson grass 
is perennial and has cane-like roots, or 
more properly, underground stems, 
from the size of a goose-quill to that of | 
the little finger. These roots are tender, | 
and hogs are fond of and thrive on them | 
The roots literally fill the | 
in winter. 
ground near the surface, and every joint 
is capable of developing a bud. Hence | 
the grass is readily propagated from | 
Itis also propagated from | 
root cutting. 
the seeds, but not always so certainly ; 
for in some localities many faulty seeds 
8 F 
are produced, and in other places no 
seeds are matured. Before sowing the 
seeds, therefore, they should be tested, | 
as should all grass seeds indeed, in order 
to know what proportion will germinate, | 
and thus what quantity per acre to sow. 
One bushel of a good sample of this seed | 
is sufficient for one acre of land. 
The leaf, stalk and panicle of this 
grass resemble those of other sorghuins. 
It grows on any land where corn will 
grow; and like the latter, the better the 
land the heavier the crop. On rich land 
the culms attain a size of over half an 
inch in diameter, and a height of seven | 
It should be cut while tender, | 
feet. 
and then all live stock are fond of it; 
for a few weeks are sufficient to render 
itso coarse and hard that animals refuse 
it, or eat sparingly. 
A few testimonials are here quoted to 
give an idea of the productiveness and | 
value of this plant. Ina letter published 
in the Rural Carolinian for 1874, Mr. N. 
B. Moore, who had for more than forty 
RICHARD FROTSCHER’S ALMANAC AND GARDEN MANUAL 
years grown crops, speaks of this grass 
under the name of Guinea grass. 
‘“My meadow consists of one hundred 
acres of alluvial land, near Augusta. 
* * * Tn winter [employ but four men, 
who are enough to work my packing- 
press; in summer, when harvesting, 
double that number. In autumn I 
usually scarify both ways with sharp, 
steel-toothed harrows, and sow over the 
stubble a peck of red clover per acre, 
which, with volunteer vetches, comes 
offabout the middle of May. The second 
yield of clover is uniformly eaten up by 
grasshoppers. The top root remains to 
fertilize the then coming Guinea grass, 
which should be but from two to three. 
feet high. On such land as 
mine, it will afford three or four cuttings 
if the season is propitious. I use an 
average of five tons of gypsum soon 
after the first cutting, and about the 
same quantity of the best commercial 
fertilizers, in March and April. * */ * 
The grass, which is cut before noon, is 
put up with horse sulky rakes, in cocks, 
before sun-down.”’ 
Mr. Moore’s income from this field 
was from seven thousand to ten thou- 
sand dollars a year. 
Mr. Goelsel, of Mobile, says: ‘“‘Itis 
undoubtedly the most profitable soiling 
plant yet introduced, and also promises 
to be the plant for our Southern hay 
stacks, provided it can be cut every 
three or four weeks.”’ 
Note.—Recognizing all the above, I 
would say, that great care must be taken 
not to sow this grass near cultivated 
lands. Ifdone, it should not be allowed 
to go to seed, as the wind will blow them 
off from the stalks, and when it gets 
amongst cane or other crops it causes 
a great deal of trouble. It is almost im- 
possible to get it out of the land. 
RESCUE GRASS. 
(Ceratochloa australis or Bromus Schraderi.) 
It isan annual winter grass. It varies 
in the time of starting growth. I have 
seen it ready for mowing the first of 
October and furnish frequent cuttings 
till April. Again, it may not start be- 
fore January, nor be ready to cut till 
February. This depends upon the 
moisture and depression of temperature. 
When once started, its growth, after 
the successive cuttings or grazings, is 
