Fur the Southern Slates. 79 
It is widely naturalized and well adapted to a great variety of soils. 
On sandy, or gravelly soils, it succeeds admirably, growing two or three 
feet high. On rich, dry upland ii grows from live to seven feet high. It 
has an abundance of perennial, long fibrous roots, penetrating deeply 
in the soil being therefore less affected by drought or cold, and enab¬ 
led to yield a large quantity of foliage, winter and summer. These ad¬ 
vantages render it one of the very best grasses for the South, both for 
grazing ^being evergreen) and for hay, admitting of being cut twice a 
year. It is probably the best winter grass that can be obtained. 
It will make twice as much hay as timothy, and containing a 
greater quantity of albuminoids, and less of heat-producing principles, 
it is better adapted to the uses of the Southern farmer while it exhausts 
the surface soil less, and may be grazed indefinitely, except after mow¬ 
ing. To make good hay it must be cut the instant it blooms, and, after 
being cut, must not get wet by dew or rain, which damages it greatly 
in quality and appearance. 
For green soiling, it may be cut four or five times with favorable 
seasons. In from six to ten days after blooming, the seeds begin to 
ripen and fall, the upper ones first. It is therefore a little troublesome 
to save the seed. As soon as those at the top of the panicle ripen suffi¬ 
ciently to begin to drop the heads should.be cut off and dried, when 
the seeds will all thresh out readily and be matured. After the seeds 
are ripe and taken off the long abundant leaves and stems are still 
green, and being mowed make good hay. 
It may be sown in March or April, and mowed the same season ; 
but for heavier yield, it is better to sow in September or October. 
Along the more southerly belt, from the £1° parallel southward, it may 
be sown in November and onward till the middle of December. When¬ 
ever sown it is one of the most certain grasses to have a good catch. 
Not less than two bushels (14 pounds) per acre should be sown. Like 
timothy, on inhospitable soils, the root may sometimes become bul¬ 
bous. The average annual nutrition yielded by this grass in the 
Southern belt is probably twice as great as in Pennsylvania and other 
Northern States. 
JOHNSON GRASS. 
( Sorrjhum Judapense.) 
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 it Johnson grass, 
and leave the name Guinea grass for the Panicum jumeniorum , to 
which it properly belongs. 
It is true that in Mr. Howard’s pamphlet, as well as in many period¬ 
icals and books, and in letters and common usage, this grass has been 
far more generally called Guinea grass than the true Guinea grass it¬ 
self, thus causing vast confusion. It is, therefore, assuredly time to 
call each by its right name. Johnson grass is perennial a id 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 
