The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-10-31

ghums. 1t has been tested widely since
its introduction in the United States.
especially in Texas and Oklahoma
Acre Value $64O.
The authorities of the State Aericul-
tural college produced $40 pounds Of
grain on a single acre of land this sea-
son and its market value is one dollar
a pound as against $3.50 last year.
There will be strong demand for the
seed for planting next season. and the
price undoubtedly will have decreased
considerably by next fall. 1t is not
possible to get a large supply of seed
from Sudan for the reason it is a wild
growth there. and the natives do not
save the seed.
Mr.. Smith of Wakarusa was extreme
ly favorably impressed with the results
of his experiment this season. and no
doubt many Shawnee farmers will try
out this new forage plant next year.
Mr.. Smith planted his seed on high
land -
In Texas it is possible to. get. two
and to cut from three to five times for
forage.
Borman on Sudan Grass.
T. A. Borman. editor of the Kansas
Farmer, and an authority on the sor-
ghums had the following to say about
Sudan grass: I'm this latitude and
under this rainfall two crops should
be grown a year. In feeding value the
roughage Is about like cane. It is a
good deal more easily handled because
it isn't SO coarse. 1t is eaten more
clean by the livestock.
1T promises in this county to take
the place of cane and millet for rough
age. but it is still in the experimental
stage. The seed has no feeding value.
The seed in sown in rows, ne to two
pounds to the acre. The plant stools
abundantly."
Twin Brother Of johnson,
Sudan grass has been called the twin
| 1t IN appearance. But this johnson
which is pest-in fact a noxious weed
l. is common in the Gulf states and has
| found its way into Oklahoma and
Texas. Care should be taken to plant
Sudan seed that is free from the seed
of the Johnson grass.
! The weekly news letter to crop cor
respondents for October IA issued by
the United States department of agri-
| culture has the following to say about
Sudan grass:
| specialists in the department are
| now devoting considerable attention
| to the Introduction of Sudan grass as
valuable addition to the forage
| crops of many sections. Sudan grass
is an annual, related to johnson grass,
but distinguished from it by the alb
| sence of roOtstocks and by broader
and more numerous leaves.
when seeded broadcast or in drills
| 1t averages about to feet in height,
but when grown in rows and Guilt
waited this can be increased to to 8
feet The hay of the cultivated crop,
however, is somewhat coarser and not
SO desirable for market purposes.
Sudan Resists DrOuth.
Tho yields to be expected from SUI
dan grass naturally vary quite q little
| in accordance with the section where
it in grown. Under ordinary circum-
| stances the total yields range from 1
| to tons cured hay per acre. depend
ing largely on the number of cuttings
| that are possible In the central
Great Plains two are not upusual. and
farther south three, and in some cases
even four are possible.
"Drouth naturally reduces the
yields. but nevertheless tons to an
! kota and southern Minnesota In the
face OF the exceptionally severe sum-
mer Of 1913. In the south. under SIM
! liar conditions OF severe drouth. SUI
dan grass has been found to do bet
ter than the millets and sorghums.
I'm addition to its value as a soiling
crop and as hay. Sudan grass can be
made into excellent silage- Its exact
value for this purpose. however, has
not been 50 thoroughly tested.
"Since this crop Is not yet so very
generally grown. prices for seed are
high. in some cases - per pound be-
ing quoted last year. Increase in pro-
duction. however. should result before
long in very much lower prices Dur
ing the past year the department has
distributed small quantities OF seed to
lover $500 people. including farmers
In all parts Of the United States"
Sudan grass should be well adapted