28 



coarse and hard. Several cuttings annually are made. From 1 to 2 

 bushels of seed have been recommended per acre, and thin stands 

 may be thickened by allowing seed to mature and fall. In old 

 meadows the rootstocks become matted near the surface and the crop 

 is affected by drought. Such meadows are benefited by plowing 

 every third or fourth year. 



The grass is drought resistant, nutritious, and palatable. The 

 only objections to it are its inability to withstand a close pasturing, 

 and the difficulty of eradicating it from cultivated fields. Small 

 areas can be cleaned by confining hogs thereon. Plowing when very 

 dry and raking out the stems with spike-tooth harrows is only partially 

 effective. 



To eradicate Johnson grass, pasture closely or cut frequently for 

 about two seasons, then plow shallow; put in a cultivated crop and 

 cultivate thoroughly. 



In Hawaii Johnson grass has been planted in various places. It 

 is more or less of a pest in alfalfa fields on Oahu, and occurs in some 

 of the cane fields along the Kahului Railroad, on Maui. 



The two following grasses are recommended for planting in prefer- 

 ence to Johnson grass, since they can be easily destroyed when the 

 land is wanted for other crops. According to some reports given in 

 the meetings of the Hawaiian Live Stock Breeder's Association, John- 

 son grass thrives up to 2,000 feet, while other reports say that 600 

 feet is too high for it. Some reported it as well liked by cattle, while 

 Mr. Isenberg stated that cattle at Waialae preferred almost anything 

 else to Johnson grass. 



Andropogon sorghum var., Sudan grass (PL VII, fig. 2, a), another 

 African grass, closely resembling Johnson grass, but without its under- 

 ground rootstock, has recently been introduced and distributed to a 

 few of the ranches. At the experiment station this grass in a small 

 trial plat, with frequent light showers in the spring of 1913, made a 

 growth of 4 feet 9 inches to 5 feet, and began flowering in 55 days 

 from planting the seed. Good reports of it have been received from 

 Haleakala ranch and from Princeville plantation. Tests in various 

 parts of the United States have been made and favorable reports 

 received as to its value. The table of composition shows it to be above 

 the average in feeding value. Horses are extremely fond of it green 

 or dry, and no doubt the same will hold true with other stock. 



Sudan grass ratoons readily, but judging from a single ratoon crop, 

 grown in the dry month of August at Honolulu, the ratoon crop will 

 not be as valuable as the first crop. The first crop had many fine 

 stems; the ratoon crop had a few much larger ones, which is objection- 

 able. Further experiments will determine its value. The seeds are 

 large and well liked by stock and also by birds. This grass and the 

 one preceding and following are small sorghums, and may be easily 



