Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1888-03-08
SORGHUM CULTURE.
A Plant That Requires the Same Soil and
Care as Corn.


In general it may be said that
sorghum will thrive on any land that
will produce a fair crop of corn. both
plants requiring about the same soil
and climate. The cultivation also is
substantially the same, except that in
its early stages sorghum requires
more attention than corn, being
more liable 10 be choked by weeds.
After having good start sorghum is
a vigorous plant, and will stand
severe drought much better than corn.
With sorghum, however, not only the
stalk, but its quality Gas to richness
of cane juice in saccharine proper
ties) must be taken into account, and
this is more or less affected by the
soil as we'll as climate.
Whilst, then, broadly speaking.
land that is good for corn is good for
sorghum. the best results can only be
expected from soil specially adapted
to all the wants of the latter. Whilst
cane-growers are generally agreed as
to what is good and what is poor
land for sorghum. there is some dis
agreement as to what is the very best.
Most cane-growers agree that sandy.
upland soil is very good, and black
bottom very poor; the new land is
good, especially the bright clay soil
found in many Sc ctions on the skirts
of timber land; that any soil that is a
mixture of sand inclined to limestone.
and with clay enough to hold it well
together, is very good; that upland
soil, moderately thick. with limestone
subsoil, is excellent; that poor soil is
better than very rich soil; that warm,
dry soils. having a southern exposure
and natural drainage. are desirable;
and that clay land gives good strip.
but not so large yield.
The soil, unless in good condition,
should be MANFRED in the fall with
vegetable or rotten stable manure.
This is especially desirable in clay
lands. Land freshly MANFRED yields
poor strip.
Plow deep and pulverize thoroughly.
By throwing into ridges the soil will
be better affected by frost in winter.
and will dry out sooner in the spring.
In general. prepare the ground as for
corn. Deep fall blowing is very de-
sirable. especially for new land. as
it will put the ground in
good conditions and tend TO
destroy the weeds by winter freezing.
If practicable. sheltered ground should
be selected. as a safeguard against the
prostration of the crop. The ground
should be well prepared and the culti-
valion thorough. so as to destroy all
weeds All extra labor put in during
the early stages of the growth of sor-
gum will be repaid amply in the in
creased value of the crop. Special
care should be taken that repIanting
may be required, since it is important
that all the cane mature at the same
time.
In the spring. after breaking up the
ground by deep blowing, it should be
thoroughly pulverized and made ready
for planting by clearing off all weeds
and litter. 1t should be put in condi-
ton suitable for garden.
We take leave of this part of our
subject by adding (even if we but re-
iterate in other words what we have
said above) with emphasis, piow deep.
no matter how deep. The roots OF the
cane will penetrate several feet and
they need great depth to give the best
result. -Sor0huns Hand Book