The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1911-06-01
DRY FARM SORGHUM
Two Types Do Unusually Well in
Arid Regions.
Method Of Preparing Seed Bed Does
Not Differ Materially From That
Of Treating COMPLIANT ls
Sensitive TO Cold.
my IT, r. PATTERSON. Montana Ex-
pertinent Station)

my IT, r. PATTERSON. Montana Ex-
pertinent station)
There are two types OF sorghum
that do unusually well I'm regions OF
light precipitation. The sweet or snc-
charine sorghum is perhaps grown
more for its sugar content than for
forage purposes. The non-saccharine
is known primarily as a fodder sor-
ghum. Under this group we have the
milo maize and the kaflr corn. The
plant Ia very rank grower and
furnishes considerable feed. II grows
unusually well upon light soils and in
hot climates. However. Il will do
better when grown upon the loan
and when supplied with sufficient
moisture.
The method of preparing the seed
bed for sorghum docs not differ ma
terially from the method OF preparing
the seed bed for corn. II the land is TO
be plowed in the spring It 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 II is desirable to secure n crop OF
seed, we usually drill the seed I'm 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. large amount OF seed is used
when the grain is broadcasted. II is
customary to put in about fifteen
pounds per acre. or 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 II some of the seeds do not
terminate II will mean that more
seeds must be used.
In the season or until the soil has
warmed up quite thoroughly The
plant Is very tender and II the soil
happens to be very wet and cold the
seeds Will not terminate, the young
plant will not grow.
Best results have always been Sc
cured by the use of fresh seed. The
seed loses It's vitality very quickly and
II 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. IL 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 a drill or with |
n broadcast seeder. II the sorghum
is drilled in the subsequent care will |
be the same rs that for corn, but II !
II is broadcasted II receives but little |
care until time for harvest. However. |
narrowing Immediately after seeding
and just as the grass comes through |
the soil has been known to give good |
.
weeds and will also aid In forming a
mulch over the surface, which viii pre-.
serve the moisture. Sorghum is a quick |
growing plant and as was mentioned |
before, furnishes great deal of fod-
der.
II forage crop ia to be secured.
the grain should be cut before the full |
a..
crop is secured In a season. The
binder or the mower may be used In
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 It's thorough drying and curing.
The crop, II cut with the binder, is
handled In much the same way as ia
the small grains. To secure crop
OF seed we must not harvest until the
grain is In the milk or early doughy
stage. The plant is used almost ex-
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. II is not customary to al
low the entire bundle to pass through
the thresher, but to thrust the heads
into the cylinder and then remove the
other portions. This will not break
up the stalks and as result
some good fodder may be obtained
The yields from sorghum vary from
ten TO ninety bushels per acre, the
average being about forty-five bushels
As high as 10 tons OF fodder has also
been secured from this crop In the
arid regions,