The Natchitoches enterprise. (Natchitoches, La.) 1888-1965, 1915-11-18

Quoted feeling trials with yearllng
heifers, including Sudan grass in
the ration. Results would indicate
that, IN each case where it was
fed, gains were made at lower
cost than where other roughage
was used. This hay was found of
higher feeding value than a
medium grade of alfalfa. How
ever, dairy tests ar the same station
proved that good grade of
alfalfa was more nutritious than
Sudan grass. Sudan grass hay
does not command so high price
in the market as alfalfa, usually
selling at dollar to two dollars
less a ton.
Sudan grass may be made into
siIage, but since it can be readily
cured for hay it will probably not
be used extensively for this pur-
pose. Experiments have shown
that it makes good pasture until
frost. 1t might be pastured after
this time, but as it is sorghum,
stock might be liable to prussic-
acid poisoning if they ate it after
frost.
Pros PASS ALFALFA FOR SUDAN
GRASS.
The past season W. A, Watson,
of Centeral. Oklahoma. planted
three acres to cane and two acres
to Sudan grass. He reports that
hogs pasture on the cane until
they found the Sudan grass, after
which they did not return to the
cane until the Sudan grass has
been entirely cleaned up. George
Bishop, of Cordell. Oklahoma,
relates similar experience IN
pasturIng pigs on alfalfa and
Sudan grass. the pigs, according
to Mr.. Bishop. 'wading through
alfalfa up to their eyes in order to
get to the Sudan grass"
In humid sections Sudan grass
will probably yield more hay when
broadcast, but under conditions of
less rainfall better results are
obtained by planting in rows from
eighteen to forty two inches apart.
In the great Plains region rows
thirty-slx to forty-two inches
apart have given best results. The
witdh of the rows should be COVER
ned bv the rainfall.
Seeding nay be done with an
ordinary corn planter, but a
special plstar il required; Holes
diameter may be bored in blank
plate, the number of holes being
determined by the gearing OF the
planter and the rate of PLANTING
desired. Seeding at the rate of
four to eight pounds to the acre
has given the best results but
the plant stools extensively and
good results have been obtained
from one to three pounds an acre.
The ordinary what drill has
also given good satisfaction in
this crop. BY stopping
up some of the feed holes the dis
lance between the rows can be
as desired. When thick
seeding is wanted the wheat drill
may be used, leaving all the holes
open aid rlanting fifteen to twenty
pounds to the acre. Thinner
seeding may be followed when the
seed crop is desired. Many seed
growers plant as low as a pound
and ! half to the acre and obtain
good seed crops. AS many as
500 stems have been counted COM
ng from a single seed.
When cutting for seed the
binder has been the most popular
method of harvesting the crop.
Two rows may be cut at time
md, except where the grass stands
heavy, no great diff
,ulty is experienced in cutting in
his way. Some growers prefer
he corn binder for cutting the |
,aed crop. but this method is |
omewhat slower, as one row ca n
,e harvested at a time.
The mower is preferred when
utting for hay. Sudan grass is
hreshed with an ordinary thresh-
ng outfit. The straw is still avail
bile for feed, but owing to the
lrying-out process before thresh-
ng the grass loses much of its
urculence and is not so palatable
S when cured as hay crop.
The grain sorghums require
rom 80 to 40 days to mature.
q, 40 N rvra~e, vcokora., &c fret oroyN |