Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1910-07-23
WHAT SHALL T sOwP
Varieties to Grow-How and When
Sow Crops for Forage.

Sow Crops for Forage.
From Press Bulletin No. g. South Dakota State
College, Experiment Station, Agronomy De
partment.
The extended period of drouth over q
great portion of South Dakota is causing
marked decrease in the yields Of pas
ture grasses. Many farmers find it nee
essary to feed stock during time oi
the year when ordinarily there is good
grazing. The evident outcome can only
result in a shortage of feed this fall and
winter, unless precautions are taken
now. Too many farmers and stock men
will be compelled to place cattle, sheep
and hogs on the market in poor con-
dition. and will feel loath to stock up
again in the spring. Should such con.
dition come, and it 10 quite likely, 1t may
take many years to overcome 1t.
There are only few crops which seem
adapted to the present needs, however,
this may not be so bad after all for many
farmers will now not hesitate but seed
at once. The time for seeding is indeed
very short and he who wishes to grow a
crop must SOW his seed at once. What
are some of the crops which will yet
produce large amount of roughags?
Rape.-This plant is an annual be-
longing to the same family as the cab
bages. 1t seems we'll suited for forage
and some farmers have some seeded
now for fall feed. The plant is very
succulent and will furnish an abundance
of good pasture if sown soon. 1t has a
high feeding value for sheep and swine
and produces an abundant flow of milk
when fed to milch cows. 1t stands quite
severe cold weather and thus furnishes
feed long after the grasses succumb to
frost.
Rape should be sown on cool, moist,
mellow soils where there is an abundant
supply of humus. Very sandy or clayey
soils are not good because they are not
80 we'll adapted during these extreme
conditions. Just before cultivating corn
for the last time rape should be sown
broadcast at the rate Of from three to
five pounds of seed per acre and then
covered by the last cultivation. Dwarf
Essex, which can be obtained from all
seedmen is the best variety and is recon-
mended. 1t is better to SOW it immedi-
ately after rain if possible so the seeds
come in contact with moist earth, while
the cultivator will restore the surface
mulch.
Fields of grain that will not be profit
able to harvest can easily be put in
shape. Disking such fields double and
then narrowing until fine and level is
all that is needed in preparation of the
seed bed. Low lands where crop is
harvested before August are ideal be-
cause they contain an abundant supply
of humus and the water table is nearer
the surface. Disk such fields and seed
as stated above.
Use care and good judgment in feed.
ing rape as it will cause bloat in cattle
and sheep before they are accustomed
to eating of it. This danger can easily
be avoided if stock is permitted to
feed on it gradually. Send for Bulletin
No. 1l9.
Millet.-Millet occupies an important
place as a forage plant. If it is sown on
rich, moist, loamy soil, it will produce
a large crop. 1t has this advantage over
rape that it may be cured as hay. Mil
let must have we'll prepared seed.bed
and the grain should be placed in con-
tact with moist earth. Millet will stand
very dry weather if it is once established
and the land is free from weeds. If the
soil is too loose it must be made firm
with roller or a packer but the surface
must be stirred with smoothing har.
row to conserve moisture. Sowing the
grain with drill is best for more uni
formity is secured.
Kursk, one of the fox-tailed varieties,
is the best. 1t has leafy stem and pro.
duces an excellent and better quality oi
forage than the proso-millets. However,
it is not so early in maturing neither
does it stand drouth as we'll. Of the
prose- or broom-corn millets, the Black
Voronezh is recommended. This type
is grown more for its seed than fol
roughage. Seed two to three pecks pei
acre. Millets must be harvested just a,
the right time if they are to be fed and
the best stage is when the grain is in
the soft dough stage. Feed with care
when first beginning.
Rye.-Wintsr rye can be sown during
the latter part of August, or even earlier
and If the conditions are favorable viii
furnish some late pasture. Its value
however, is in that it will come very
early in the spring and is greatly rel.
ished by all stock. Sow with drill al
you would wheat, oats, or barley. Win
ter rye sown at the rate of or 6 peck
is recommended.
Taking time by the forelock cannot b.
too strongly emphasized. Now is th,
time. This is the critical period to pre-
pare for the emergency. Do not So.
tomorrow, but today. Secure seed a
the nearest source of supply; the neigh
bors, stores or seed houses.
| -~
1t is yet too early to predict what tn
size of the small grain crop will be, bu