The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1911-06-27

Two Types Do Unusually Well in
Arid Regions.
Method Of Preparing Seed Bed DOCS
Not Differ Materially From That
Of Treating COMPLIANT 10
Sensitive to Cold.

(By H =. PATTERSON. Montana NIX
pertinent 6tation.)
There are two types Of sorghum
that do unusually we'll in regions OF q
light precipitation. The sweet or sac
charine sorghum IL perhaps grown
more for its sugar content than Tor
forage purposes. The non-sacchar1ne
IL known primarily az a fodder sor-
ghum. Under this group we have the
milo maize and the kafhr corn. The
plant Is a very rank grower and
furnishes considerable feed. 1t grows
unusually we'll upon light soils and IN
hot climates. However. It 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 a depth Of about six or
seven inches. The land should then
be disked, narrowed once or twice,
when the seed may be sown. The
method OF seeding and the amount of
seed sown per acre will vary accord
ing to the purpose Of the crop.
II 1t is desirable to secure crop OF
seed, we usually drill the seed 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
drilling 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 large 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 pei
acre; also II some Of the seeds do not
terminate 1t will mean that more
seeds must be used.
Sorghum is not sown until quite late
In the season or until the soil hal
warmed up quite thoroughly. The
plant is very tender and If the sol
happens to be very wet and cold tn,
seeds will not terminate. the young
plant will not grow.
Best results have always been Sc
cured by the use OF fresh seed. Thu
seed loses It's vitality very quickly an,
II old seed Is used good results ar
not always obtained. The amount o
seed will also vary according to tn
amount Of moisture present In tn
soil. II the crop is to be grown upo
irrigated land we usually add abou
four pounds per acre to the amour
given above. Upon irrigated land tn
seed is also sown with drill or wit
broadcast seeder. II the sorghum
Is drilled in the subsequent care wi
be the same as that for corn. but
1t Is broadcasted 1t receives but littl
care until time for harvest Howeve
narrowing Immediately after seedin
and just as the grass comes throug
the soil has been known to give goo
results. This will keep down tn
. weeds and will also aid In forming
mulch over the surface, which will DR.
serve the moisture. Sorghum is quic
I growing plant and as was mentione
before, furnishes great deal Of TO
: der.
II . forage crop Is to be secure
the grain should be cut before the fu
blooming period Is reached. But OF
( crop Is secured in a season. TT
T binder or the mower may be used
Z removing the crop. The grass wht
7 cut with the mower should be above
to cure and then should be placed
small cocks or piles. This will perm
. of its thorough drying and curin
The crop, II cut with the binder,
handled In much the same way as
= the small grains. To secure a CT,
OF seed we must not harvest until 4
:. grain Is III the milk or early doug
. stage The plant is used almost {
!, clusively to secure the crop of see
). The bundles are placed In shocks a
= allowed to dry, when they a
a threshed with the common threshi
!. machine. 1t Is not customary to
=. low the entire bundle to pass throu
a the thresher, but to thrust the hea
y into the cylinder and then remove t
- other portions. This will not bre
up the stalks and as a res
some good fodder may be obtained.
+ The yields from sorghum vary fr'
8 ten to ninety bushels per acre,
+ average being about forty-five bush<
g As high as IL tons of fodder has a
Z been secured from this crop in
arid regions.
e. ..,