The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1911-03-30
GROW FORAGE CROPS
Soruhum Is Most Profitable
Under Average Conditions.
10 Drouth Resistant and May Wit and
Dry Up Until Ready to BE
Blown Away and still Make
Excellent Crop.

Excellent crop
In answer to the query, What for
age crops would Il be- advisable TO
grow I'm western Nebraska? the Dry
Farming Institute makes the follow
ing reply:
II we are to take the average table
land farm, under average conditions,
then we must agree that sorghum Is
the most profitable forage crop. II Is
the only crop, aside from corn, kafRl
corn and the grains that promises
much forage. Alfalfa will produce
one and a half tons per acre during
favorable seasons, but during dry
seasons the tonnage OF alfalfa will be
very light. Kaflr corn will with
stand more drouth thar sorghum, but
does not do so well as sorghum when
sown broadcast, and does not mature
seed under normal conditions in much
OF western Nebraska. The seed must
be shipped in at considerable expense,
while the farmer can grow cane seed.
Corn will not Withstand as much
drouth as sorghum and will not pro
duce as large tonnage. The common
grains are not very desirable for for
age since they are more valuable tor
the grain they produce during favor
able years and yield but a small ton
mage during unfavorable years. Mil
let sometimes gives a rather large
tonnage, but 1t more often does not
I give satisfactory results in yield. The
hay must be fed with extreme care
to horses. il fed at all.
Sorghum is the most certain crop of
all these to mature forage. This Is
due to two factors. It is by nature a
drouth resistant. II may wilt and dry
up till Il is about ready to be blown
away and still make a crop II given
sufficient water during the period of
fall rains. It need not be Owl
till the middle of June, or eve later.
This permits the accumulation of
moisture in the soil in which the cane
seed is to be planted. With seasons
of normal rainfall the first six feet
Of the soil may be saturated with
moisture at seeding time il the proper
cultivation has beer given. This is a
great factor in crop production.
II may be planted in rows with a
lister. corr planter or drill. and Guilt
waited. This method is certain to pro-
duce forage. The usual practice is to
SOW 1t broadcast or with a press drill,
at the rate of four pecks per acre. 1t
should be sown In June, so that the
first heads will begin to ripen about
the time frost may be expected. II
: should be cut with a mower before II
is frosted, or the first day after II is
, frosted. The object in sowing 1t late
| Is to nave 1t begin to ripen at the
!, time of the first killing frost. If cut
at this time there is not much proba-
bility of its being damaged by rain
while in the swath or windrow. II
/, should be cut when the first heads
begin to turn black or red. If cut in
August or in the early part of Septem.
|, Der It is likely to be lying in the
1 swath or windrow; It will stand much
3 abuse without being rendered unfit foT
3 feed, yet II is better, II II is put into
l the shock or stack while bright.
> Cane or sorghum should be put into
. windows as 500 as It has become
thoroughly wllted. This viii require
Q about two days OF sunshine. It usual
ly requires several weeks before II
. may be stacked with safety. One sat
9 ~isfactory way is to shock It after Il
has cured In the windrow. II may BIZ
e shocked with but little hard labor by
r using a hay sweep to sweep It into
I piles. One man with a team anC
e sweep, and two men to follow will
Q forks will shock So or more tons pc
r day. Two sweep loads pushed to
gether and topped with a fork make
h desirable shocks to haul from during
e the winter, where IL is not deemed
8 necessary to stack all the cane. Som,
should be stacked to carry stool
through the storms while the snov
covers the shocks.
This forage ranks with prairie ha!
d In feeding value. II is a sa~tisfactor,
o feed for cattle. and for horses boil
during the winter and during tn,
working season. Where feeding can,
as the only forage. the grain ratiol
should be oats or barley rather thai
all corn, as the sorghum is a starch.
food like corn. If o~ne-fourth or one
, half Of the forage ration is alfalfa bel
ter results will be secured than iron
sorghum alone. or from sorghum an
prairie hay, Sorghum is beyond ques
ton the leading forage crop for wesi
ern Nebraska tableland. In the va
| leys, where there is irrigation or sui
Irrigation, alfalfa is the prominen
forage crop.