TWO PROMINENT SOUTHERN GRASSES 1 43 



Johnson grass meadow. Yet some 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 be killed 

 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 7 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. Ordinaril}- 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 



