Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1913-11-05
A NEW GRASS FOR FARMERS.
Sudan Forage Plant Promises to Sup
plant Sorghum-Easily Grown.
(By w, l.. Hutchinson, Clemson Ex-
tension Division ....


Apparently the farmers Of South
Carolina are becoming more inter-
ested in the hay crop. The growing
OF alfalfa, the best Of hay plants, is
being exploited. Interest Is mani
tested in oats and vetch, a winter
season hay crop. Moreover, many of
the farmers Of the State still have
the bad practice Of pulling fodder, an
Improbable business.
Sudan grass, perhaps the original
form of sorghum, is a promising hay
plant. The stems are much finer
than sorghum and hence it cures
quicker. 1t has a shorter period OF
growth, maturing a crop in about six
weeks. This quick growth makes it
particularly valuable both for an
early cron Of hay and for a good yield
when sown late in the season. This
quality makes it valuable to SOW
after oats, as it will mature a good
crop of hay and be out Of the way in
time to permit a good preparation Of
the land for the early planting of any
fall crops. AS it cures quickly, there
is less danger Of serious damage by
rain.
Sudan grass is an annual and
grows during the summer season. 1t
does not become a weed, as is the
case with Johnson grass. The seed
weigh about thirty-two pounds to
the bushel and for sowing broadcast
for hay, about one and a half bushels
should be sown to the acre. For
growing seed crop it is best to plant
in drills. Five to ten pounds of seel
to the acre will be sufficient for a
good stand. When planted in drills
one or two civilizations should be
given, but the drills should be just
as close as will permit easy tillage.
Sudan grass grows from three to
five feet tall and the stems have
abundant leaves. 1t is hardy and it
is very easy to get a good stand. 1t
seeds abundantly SO that when gene
rally grown the seed will be cheap.
Sudan grass should make a more
| attractive market hay than the plants
that are being grown at present. 1t
may be fed to all kinds Of live stock
and the animals are fond of it. Evi-
IDENTIFY this plant, recent importa-
tion Of the United States Department
Of Agriculture, will be a valuable ad-
dition to most Of the farms in the
State. 1t may lessen and even stop
the Improbable practice of pulling
fodder. The planting season is very
long, extending from corn planting
time till August.
1t will be noted that Sudan grass
has many desirable qualities as a hay
plant. 1t grows RAPIDLY, giving
good yield of hay in a short time. A
good stand is easily secured and the
cost Of seeding small. The stems be-
the risk Of injury from exposure to
the weather The abundance Of
leaves gives hay Of excellent quality
relished by all kinds Of stock. There
10 q oSoooh VI oSNCl al llOulHS III
which to find a convenient time to
grow it, and in this way it can be
made to supplement our standard
crops rather than compete with them.
Its qualities recommend it as a mar
ket hay as well as a good hay for
the farm.
The seed are not plentiful as yet.
but five pounds to start with would
soon provide all the seed a farm
would need:
This plant may be grown on the
soils Of South Carolina just as they
are. You do not have to make the
soils over in order to grow it, Nei-
ther lining nor inoculation is neces-
sary to success. 1t is just as easy to
grow as any of the crops that we now
produce. The seed are about the size
Of sorghum seed and may be planted
about the same depth A corn
planter with a sorghum plate may be
used for planting in the drill. When
sown broadcast, the seed may be COW
cred with a harrow.
CLEANSES YOUR HAIR,
MAKES TIT M IrpJrIIrI