Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1910-08-01
TIMELY HINTS ON
SORGHUM AND SHEEP
Result of Practical Experiments In
This Valley.

The following paper issued by the
agricultural experiment station as No.
50 of the series Timely Hints for
Farmers" shows the practical results
of tests with sorghum and alfalfa
as ration for sheep, and also gives
the figures of the cost of growing
sorghum under different methods.
The paper is by +. w. Wilson of the
experiment station of this valley, and
is reproduced as follows:
Sorghum As a Forage and Grain Ra-
ton for Sheep.
In many localities in Southern Ari-
IONA there are areas of saline, or
for other reasons, unoccupied lands
which are available for the growing
of sorghum. During the summer
months this crop may follow small
grain crop to good advantage, but it
must be remembered that sorghum
seriously taxes the fertility of the
land. The summer rainy season,
which usually comes at the time most
needed for sorghum, tends to main
tain this fertility; for at this time
irrigating waters usually carry con-
siderable amounts of fertiliZing scdi-
ments
Sorghum, being a drough- resistant
plant, may be grown under southern
Arizona conditions with a minimum
amount of irrigating water. In some
sections of the territory, especially in
the Sulphur Springs Valley, fair
crops may be grown successfully on
rainfall only. 1t is commonly fed
in combination with alfalfa and small
grain pasture and with alfalfa hay.
In the early summer of 1908 suffi-
cient seed of so-called Japanese
sorghum was procured to plant three
plots of land. This variety has been
grown successfully for a number of
years in the Lower ella Valley, near
Arlington The plots, after irrigating,
were planted May y, 1903, and for
convenience will will be designated
Plot !, Plot and Plot 3. For the
sake of uniformity the data for the
plots have been corrected to read for
one acre.
Plot l was planted with a corn list
er. in. rows of 80 inches apart, irri-
gated June 5. August 1, and Sep
TENDER 10, and cultivated with a
one horse cultivator following the
first and second irrigations The
crop was harvested October q, the
cost of production and returns being
as follows:
Cost of Growing One Acre of Sor-
ghum for Grain.
Seed, 31S pounds at 3 cents..-.$ OH
Three irrigations after planting
and one to put the land in
condition for planting. ....... zoo
Preparing the land, planting
and cultivating.-.. 4.5O
Cost Of harvesting and thresh
ing .......... 9l5 /
Total cost .SA0-oV |
Yfe1d: $50 pounds of seed.
Plot was thinly sown broadcast
for hay and irrigated June 3. August
! and September 10. The crop was
harvested September Is, the cost of
production and returns being as fol- |
lows:
Cost of Growing One Ace of Sor-
qhunn for Hay-Thinly Seeded.
seed. % pounds at cents. IS Ito
Three irrigations after planting
and one to put the land in
condition for planting ........ 2OO I
Preparing the land for planting so
Harvesting .............. 5'fs
Total cost ............ LOO /
Yield: $500 pounds of hay
plot No. 8 was thickly sown broad
cast for hay and irrigated June o.
August 1, and September 10. The
rrop was harvested September 10 the
cost of production and returns being
as follows:-
cost of Growing One Acre OF Sor-
ohun, for Hay-Thiekiy Seeded.
Secd "a pounds at cents..$ z-zo I
Three irrigations after planting
and one to put the land III