Judith Gap journal. [volume] (Judith Gap, Mont.) 1908-19??, 1911-07-07
Arid Cultivation
Of Sorghum.
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BY X. =. Patterson, Montana
Agricultural College.

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There are two types of sorghum
that do unusually we'll in regions of a
light precipitation. The sweet or sac
charine sorghum IS perhaps grown
more for its sugar content than 70.
forage purposes. The non-saccharine
Is known primarily as fodder eor-
ghum. Under this group we have the
milo maize and the kaff!r corn. The
plant is very rank grower and fur
nishes considerable feed. 1t grows
unusually well upon light soils and in
hot climates. However, 1t will do
better when grown upon the loan and
when supplied with sufficient moisture.
The method of preparing the seed
bed for sorghum does not differ ma
terially from the method Of preparing
the seed bed for corn. II the land is
to be plowed in the spring 1t must be
turned over to depth of about six
or seven inches. The land should
then be disced. narrowed once or
twice, when the seed may be sown.
The method Of seeding and the
amount Of seed sown per acre will
vary according to purpose Of the crop.
If 1t is desirable to secure a crop of
seed, we usually drill the seeds in at
the rate Of six to seven pounds per
acre. The seed may be drilled either
with the common grain drill or with
the corn planter. Some farmers seem
to have secured better results by drill.
ing the sorghum in with the corn
planter. placing the rows about three
feet six inches apart and the seeds
from four to eight inches apart In the
row A larger amount Of seed is used
when the grain is broadcasted. 1t is
customary to put in about fifteen
pounds per acre. OF course, this
amount will vary with the character
of the soil and season. II there is
any danger of any of the seeds rot.
ting. We should make allowance for
this and put on larger amount per
acre; also IL some of the seeds do not
terminate It will mean that more
seed must be used.
Sorghum is not sown until quite
late in the season or until the soil
has warmed up quite thoroughly. The
plant is very tender and if the soil
happens to be very wet and cold the
seeds will not terminate; the young
plants will not grow.
Best results have always been Sc
cured by the use of fresh. seed The
seed loses its vitality very quickly and
il old seed is used good results are
not always obtained. The amount OF
seed will also vary according to the
amount of moisture present in the
soil II the crop is to be grown upon
irrigated land we usually add about
four pounds per acre to the amount
given above. Upon irrigated land the
seed is also soWn with drill or with
a broadcast seeder II the sorghum Is
drilled in the subsequent care will be
the same as that for corn. but II it is
broadcasted it receives but little care
until time for harvest. However, har-
rowing Immediately after seeding and
Just as the grass comes through the
soil has been known to give good re-
suits. This will keep down the weeds
and will also aid in forming q mulch
over the surface which will preserve
the moisture.
II a forage crop is to be secured the
grain should be cut before the full
blooming period is reached. But one
crop Is secured in season. The
binder Of the mower may be used in
removing the crop. The grass when
cut with the mower should be allowed
to cure and then should be placed In
small cocks or piles. This will permit
of its thorough drying and curing.
The crop If cut with the binder ia
handled in much the same way as IL
the small grains. To secure crop of
seed We must not harvest until the
grain Is in the milk or early doughty
stage. The plant Is used almost ex-
clusively to secure the crop OF seed.
The bundles are placed in shocks and
allowed to dry, when they are
threshed With the common threshing
machine.
The yields from sorghum vary from
ten to ninety bushels per acre. the
average being about forty-6ve BUSH
els. As high as fifteen tons Of fodder
has also been secured from this crop
In the arid regions.