GARDEN MANUAL FOR THE SOUTHERN STATES- 101 



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, therefore, as- 

 suredly 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 ot and thrive on them in winter. 

 The roots literally fill the ground near the surface, and every joint is capable of develop- 

 ing a bud. Hence the grass is readily propagated from the root cutting. It is also propa- 

 gated from the seeds, but not always so certainly; for in some localities many faulty seed 

 are produced, and in other places no seeds are matured. Before sowing the seeds, there- 

 fore, they should be tested, as should all grass seeds indeed, in order to know what propor- 

 tion will germinate, and thus what quantity per acre to sow. One bushel of a good sam- 

 ple of this seed is sufficient for one acre of land. 



The leaf, stalk and panicle of this grass resemble 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 obtain 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 sufficient to render it so coarse and hard that animals refuse it, or eat spar- 

 ingly. 



A few testimonials are here quoted to give an idea of the productiveness and value of 

 this plant. In a letter published in the Rural 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 consist? of one hundred acres of alluvial land near Augusta. * * * 

 In winter I 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 off about the middle of May. The second yield of clover is uni- 

 formly eaten up by grasshoppers. The top roots remain 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 fertilizer, 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 thousand dollars a 

 year. 



Note. — Recognizing all the above, we would say, that great care must be taken not to 

 sow this grass near cultivated lands. If done so, it should not be allowed to go to seed, as 

 the wind will blow them off from the stalks, and when it gets among cane or other crop* it 

 causes a great deal of trouble. It is almost impossible to get it out of the land. 



FLOWER SEEDS 



The following list of Flower seeds is not very large, but it contains all which is desir- 

 able and which will do well in the Southern climate. We import them from one of the 

 most celebrated growers in Prussia, and they are of the best quality. There are very few 

 or no flower seeds raised in this country, and Northern houses, which publish large lists 

 and catalogues, get them from just the same source as ourselves; but they, on an average, 

 sell much higher than we do. Some varieties, which are biennial in Europe or North, 

 flower here the first season; in fact, if they do not they generally do not flower at all, as 

 they usually are destroyed by the continued long heat of summer. Some kinds grow 

 quicker here and come to a greater perfection than in a more Northern latitude. 



Flower seeds require a little more care in sowing than the vegetable seeds. The ground 

 should be well pulverized and light enough not to bake after a rain. Some of the more 

 delicate and finer varieties are better sown in boxes or seed pans, where they can be better 

 handled and protected from hard rains or cold weather, the other kinds do not transplant 

 well, and are better sown at once where they are to remain, or a few seeds may be sown in 

 small pots to facilitate transplanting into the garden without disturbing the plants, when 

 large enough. Some have very fine seeds, which the mere pressing of th 2 hand or spade 

 to the soil wnll cover; others may be covered one-fourth of an inch, accoiding to their size. 

 Watering should be done carefully, and if not done with a syringe, a watering oo1 . wheKe 

 the holes of the spout are very fine, should be used. __^___^_ 



When in doubt consult Steckler. 



