78 Richard Frotscher''s Almanac and Garden Manual 



October. Alono: the more soutlieriy belt, from the 31^ parallel 

 t-oiilhward, it may be sown in IsTovember and onward till the 

 middle ot December. Whenever sown it is one of the most cer- 

 tain grasses to have a gooil catch. Not less than two 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 b^lt is 

 probably twice as great as in Penusyivania and other Northern 

 States. 



JOHNSON GEASS. 



{Sorghum halapense.) 



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 Panicum jumen- 

 torum, to which it properly belongs. 



It is true that in Mr. Howard's pamphlet, as well as in many 

 periodicals nnd books, and in letters and common usage, this 

 grass has been far more gennrally called Guinea grass than the 

 true Guinea grass itself*, thu-^ causing vast confusion. It is, there- 

 fore, assurealy time to call eacli by its right name. Johnson 

 grass is perennial and hus cane-like roots, or more properly un- 

 derground stems, from the size of a goose-qnill to that of the lit- 

 tle finger. These roots are tender, and hogs are fond of and 

 thrive on them in winter. The roots literally fill the ground ne-T 

 the surface, and every joint is capable of developing a bud. 

 Hence the grass is rea<lily propagated from root cuttings. It is 

 also propagated from the seed, but not always so certainly; for 

 in some localities many faulty seeds are produced, and in oiher 

 places no seed are matured. Before sowing the seed, therefore, 

 they should be tested, as should all gra^s seeds indeed, in order 

 to know what proportion will germinat-', and thus what quaotity 

 per acre to sow. One bushel of a good sample of this seed is suf- 

 ficient for one acre of land. 



The leaf, stalk and paniele of this grass resf^mble those of other 

 sorghums. 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 feet. It should be cut while tender , and then 

 all live stock are fond of it; for a few weeks are sufScient to ren- 

 der it so coarse and hard that animals refuse it, or eat sparingly. 



A few testimonials are here quoted to give an idea of the pro- 

 ductiveness and value of this plant. In a letter published in the 

 Kural Carolinian for 1874, Mr. N. B. Moore, who had- for more 

 than forty 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. # * * in winter I emj^loy but four meu, wh() 

 are enough to work my packing-press; in summer \vhen harvest- 

 ing, double that number. In autumn I usualy scarify both ways 

 with sharp, stet^l -toothed harrows, and sow over the stubble a 

 peck of red clover per acre, which, with volunteer vetches, comes 



