The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1897-05-13

are very dangerous for feeding to any
kind of stock.
d ANSWER. Sorghum is successfully
nsed for soiliug. pasturage, hay and en-
silage. For soiling it is usually sown
in drills. and should be cut when the
"heads'' are formed. For pasturage the
best plan is to sow broadcast, and if
peas are sown with it the feeding value
of both crops is greatly increased. the
peas furnishing the muscle making and
she sorghum. the fat making elements.
The best hay is obtained by cutting the
sorghum soon after it begins to bloom
For ensilage the crop should be cut
when the seed is in the dough
The usual plan of harvesting the
drilled grain is to cut with scythe.
but the mower may be used. In our
climate. where there is not much moist
ure during the late summer and early
fall months. the crop may be cured
very successfully. Where sown broad
cast cut with the mower, and allow the
hay to cure thoroughly. which will re.
quire more or less time according to the
weather, from four to six days usually.
1t may be then stored in the barn or
put into stacks. topped off with coarse
grass. The following plan is recon-
mended by. the Texas Experiment Sta
ton and is an excellent one:
After moving. allow the sorghum to
lie upon the ground sufficiently long to
dry out at the ends of the blades. If
the crop is thick it should be turned
over upon the ground to expose the bot
tom portion of the CROP to the sun for q
short time; usually one full days sun
is required to dry it sufficiently to be
put into the ''cock." These haycocks
may be 5 feet high and 4 in diameter,
OF the shape of an oldfashioned beehive.
All Of the hay that is put up in this
manner should be we'll settled as it is
laid on the pile. After having con-
structed it to the proper height, rake
the loose sorghum away from the sides,
leaving q neat pile'of hay that will turn
water in case it should rain. Allow it
to remain in this shape for two or three
days for fermentation to take place,
which is evidenced by the heating"
and the deposit Of dew upon the int.
rior parts of the cock. When thoroughly
warm and before the hay loses its natu-
raj color, open the cock and expose the
hay to four or six hours sun, according
to the weight of the crop per acre and
the size of stacks; then the hay is ready
20 haul to the barn or be placed In
stacks, where it may safely be expected
to remain without moulding or heating
further. II the hay is allowed to re-
main in the cocks too long. the fermen-
tation proceeds too far andfthe hay s0urs
and then rots in the field. It will re-
main longer in the cocks without dam,
age the less of water or sap it CONTAINS
when put up. Use no salt or
other applications to preserve the hay.
The hay may be baled safely il given
six TO ten hours sun from the cock, de.
pending on tho size of the stalks
With ordinary precautions NO fear of
injury ito stock need be entertained. In
nearly all asses of trouble from feed.
ing sorghum, it has been found
that it was caused from careless
feeding. Discretion should be exercised
in regulating the feed and the animals
should not be allowed to have too much
at first. particularly if they are hun.
gw. All kinds Of stock are very fond
of it, but, like clover, it is Liable to
canse bloating if fed in too large guam
titles at first. In pasturing, it Dis well
tO.allowthe dew'to dry off before turn.
ing the animals on it, and to keep them
ON only aehort time until they have be-
GENE accustomed to the forage. As
the forage contains an excess Of fat
forming Substances, it attains its high
est value when given with ether foods
containing muscle making elements. II
animals are turned ON a field of sor.
ghum when hungry aud allowed to
gorge themselves, whether it be the
first, second or third growth, trouble
may be expected, and the same is true
OF clover and.other grass foods. State
Agricultural Department.
The .~'Plum Curcuif0."
QUEs1oN.-I send you some small
bugs, that think are running my plums
and peaches every year. ] have never
seen any of them until recently. Please
tell me what they are. and how to pre-.
vent their ravages. They pierce the
fruit, apparently. and after awhile, the
plunas and peaches 80 pierced, drop off
prematurely.
ANSwER-The insect which is giving
you so much trouble is the plum Cur.
cnlio." the very worst enemy to all
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