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

| LOT SG6U DEOQuCJlOIl Otl COL4Au4CI
cial scale may be affected to soma
extent in the humid sections by
the attacks of the sorghum nudge.
Experiments indicate that this in
sect may attack the seed in sec
tons where the annual rainfall eX.
coed thirty five inches. This pest
does not in any way interfere with
the growth of the plant or Lhe
amount Of bay or forage prOduc-
ed. It attacks the seed during
de, elopmeqt,. preventing it from
reaching maturity and rendering
it useless for planting.
| Sudan grass belongs to the
sorghum family and is closely re-
lated to the canes, milo and katir,
with which it crosses freely. 1t
has fbrous root system similar
to that of corn or kafir, and like
these crops is an annual that must
be grown from seed each Year.
These facts distinguish it from
johnson grass and eliminate any
possibility Of its becoming a weed
pest
The new crop was looked upon
with suspicion during its Unfair cy
in this country because it closely
resembles johnson grass in APP
pearance; in some parts Of the
South johnson grass has the repu-
tation of being dangerous weed
AS soon as the farmers Of the
Southwest awUke to the fat Il at
Sudan grass was not a weed, but
was the crop they had been wait
ing for through many years of dry
seasons. they planted thousands of
acres.
With the first popularity of
Sudan grass came fabulous claims
from seed growers, and inflated
prices for seed. In 1913 many
farmers paid as high as two dollars
to two dollars and fifty cents a
pound for seed. The Texas Agfi-
cultural Experiment Station re-
ports a case where 1856 pounds of
seed were produced from one acre
Of ground planted at the rate of
one pound to the acre. At seed
prices existing two or three years
ago this rate of increase promised
wonderful money-making posi-
bilities. Under average farm con-
ditions yields of 500 to 1000 lbs.
Of seed to the acre may be obtain
ed. When the first crop is cut for
hay and the second is saved for
seed it is possible to get from 300
to 500 pounds of seed to the acre
annually. These facts seem TO
grass enthusiasts that the Seed can
proftably be grown for market
for as little as FIVE to ten cents a
pound. The days of two-dolIar
seed are past. Some growers
obtained as high as one dollar a
pound for the 1914 drop, but the
best prices this year are not likely
to go beyond twenty cents a pound
for pure seed of extra quality.
A ranch at Bliss, Oklahoma,
grew 100 acres of Sudan grass
this season expressly for seed.
The crop was planted at the rate
of pound and a halt to the acre;
1t stood five to seven feet tall and
was heavily seeded. George Mil
Ter, manager of the ranch, est
mated yield of 1000 pounds Of
seed to the acre.
Sudan grass is primarily a hay
crop and will be grown entirely
for the purpose except by con
mercial seed growers and farmers
who want small amount for their
own use. This grass is probably
the most drought-resistance hay
plant known. 1t will grow on
land that will not produce alfalfa.
and 1T accommodates itself to almost
any type of soil. 1t is a heavy
yield of forage.
Ihroughout the semlarld re-
gions only two cuttings a season
may be expected, but under more
favorable conditions third cut
ting may be obtained. It has q
short growing period and the
second crop can be harvested in
to torty-fye days after
the first cutting. Sudan grass at
the Oklahoma Agricultural Ex-
pertinent Station yield an average
of about four tons of hay to the
acre this season at the first cutting.
A tnacf tr,a fr1nc ~ Eho aa.a .-