Deming graphic. (Deming, N.M.) 1903-1948, 1914-03-06
CULTIVATION Of FETEMTA AS FORAGE CROP

earliest heads are fully mature; but
il must not be left until all the heads
nre fully ripe. else considerable seed
may be lost through shnttering.
Where the heads are cut on in the
field. il is best To pasture the re-
maindrr Of the crop. Should the
crop go down on account Of n storm
before il IL harvested. il can b. util-
ized by pnstnring with hogs or eat
tie.
Feeding.-The forage value Of
ralrriia is about equal to that of milo.
For strictly forage purposes il is
perhaps excellent by both the knfrs
nnd the sweet sorghums. The heavy
production Of grain, however, makes
il effective when fed in the bundle,
heads and all, Ia work horses or
stock cattle. For fattening cattle
~ sheep il can also be- fed in this
manner with good results. Il is not
rs valuable for dairy COWS as for
the above GLASSES of stock. For use
rs ,ilnge il will he found equal To
amy of the sorghums. As II grain il
will probably rank along with the
knfirs and milos. ten bushels Of il
being considered equal to nine bush
H. Of shrlled Indian corn. The add.
ton of n small amount of cottonsead
meal or other concentrate high in
fat will greatly increase its effect
iveness as n flesh producer.
Seed selection.-In CROWN. this
crop every farmer should m IKE n
practice Of selecting seed for his
own planting. This is extremely
important with fetertia because il is
II new crop, quite variable as yet, aud
also because, on account of its open
plnnts, natural crossing takes piar,
oftener than in other sorghums.
Seed selections should be made at u
distance of one hundred yards or
more from other varieties. These
selections are best made as soon as
the first heads mature. Only leaf,
erect plants that have no side
branches and little tendency to stool
should be chosen. The head should
he one well free from the boot, large
and well filled from butt to tip. Surn
plants, IT seeded thickly enough. will
produce rs much seed ~ the sto' :.
type and will be- much easier to hnr-
YES, on account of the more uniform
maturity of the seed heads. The
field should be rogued consistently
each season In remove other types
oi sorghum il the grain is intended
foI home planting or for sale AS
seed.
Suggestions.,-Feterita should be-
impaired carefully with the ordinary
sorghum crops of your locality, es-
peciully with Dwarf milo aud Black
hull kaiir. Exaggerated claims for
lcierila ARE being made by certain
s,owers who are taking advantage of
the lack Of knowledge regarding this
crop to secure enormous profits
through the sale of seed. Miraculous
Yields IRE not Ia be- expected, but
under ordinary conditions feteriia
should at least equal Blnckhull kaiir
and Dwarf milo. Farmers are advis-
ed to try feteria in comparison with
milo or Blackhull kaiir before plant
ing il extensively. 1t would be well
to try different rates of seeding in
each locality. Stands having plants
four, eight, twelve and eighteen inch
Is apart in the row should be tested.
Seeding at different dates should also
be tried. Reports on the success OF
the crop as a stock feed and also on
its comparative drought resistance
are desired.
BY the United States Department
Of Agriculture.