The Raymer enterprise., 1911-02-16
GROW FORAGE CROPS
Sorghum 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.

6loWh Away ana otliI MAKE
Excellent Crop.
In answer to the query, What for
age crops would 1t be advisable to
grow In 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. 1t is
the only crop, aside from corn. kafiir
corn and the grains that promises
much forage. Alfalfa will produce
one and half tons per acre during
favorable seasons. but during dry
seasons the tonnage Of alfalfa will be
very light. Kafllr corn will with.
stand more drouth than sorghum, but
does not do so well as sorghum when
sown broadcast, and does not mature
seed under normal conditions In much
of western Nabraska. 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 for
the grain they produce during favor
able years and yield but small ton
mage during unfavorable years. Mil
let sometimes gives rather large
tonnage. but 1t more often does not
give satisfactory results In yield. The
hay must be fed with extreme care
to horses. II fed at all.
Sorghum is the most certain crop Of
all these to mature forage. This is
due to two factors. 1t Is by nature a
drouth resistant. 1t may wilt and dry
up till 1t Is about ready to be blown
away and still make a crop II given
sufficient water during the period OF
fall rains. 1t need not be sown
till the middle OF June. or even 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 II the proper
cultivation has been given. This is a
great factor In crop production.
1t may be planted in rows with a
lister. corn planter or drill. and cult.
waited. This method is certain to pro-
duce forage. The usual practice Is TO
SOW II 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. 1t
should be cut with mower before 1t
is frosted, or the first day after 1t Is
frosted. The object In sowing It late
is to have 1t begin to ripen at the
time OF the first killing frost. II cut
at this time there Is not much proba.
bility OF Its being damaged by rain
while In the swath or windrow. 1t
should be cut when the first heads
begin to turn black or red. II cut In
August or in the early part of Septem.
Der 1t is likely to be lying In the
swath Or windrow: 1t will stand much
abuse without being rendered unfit for
feed. yet 1t is better, II 1t is put into
the shock or stack while bright.
Cane or sorghum should be put fnto
windrows as soon as It has become
thoroughly wilted. This will require
about two days Of sunshine. 1t usual.
ly requires several weeks before It
may be stacked with safety. One sat.
isfactory way is to shock 1t after 1t
has cured In the windrow. II may be
shocked with but little hard labor BY
using a hay sweep to sweep It into
piles. One man with team and
sweep, and two men to follow with
forks will shock 35 or more tons per
day. Two sweep loads pushed to-
gether and topped with fork make
desirable shocks to haul from during
the winter. where II is not deemed
necessary to stack all the cane. Some
should be stacked to carry stock
through the storms while the snow
covers the shocks.
This forage ranks with prairie hay
In feeding value. II is a satisfactory
feed for cattle. and for horses both
during the winter and during the
working season. Where feeding cane
as the only forage, the grain ration
should be oats or barley rather than
all corn. as the sorghum Is a starchy
food like corn. II one.fourth or one.
half OF the forage ration is alfalfa bet.
ter results will be secured than from
sorghum alone, or from sorghum and
prairie hay. Sorghum is beyond ques.
ion the leading forage crop for west.
ern Nebraska table.land. In the val.
leys, where there is irrigation or sub.
irrigation, alfalfa Is the prominent
fAra