The Little River news., 1916-08-09
FORAGE CROPS FORARKANSAs
No. 5. The Sorqhums.
By Earl Fitzpatrick, Extension Agron
omist, University of Arkansas.

The sorghum family with it's many groups and varieties has been intro duced into this country and developed because of the power to withstand dry weather, make large yields, and be- cause of the various uses. It Is grown for at least four distinct purposes, Tor syrup, for hay and forage, for grain, and for brooms The main uses in Arkansas are for the first two, al, though growing some of the kinds for grain and brooms Is done in limited way The sorghums may be divided into two broad groups; First, sweet or saccharine, or those which contain a large amount of juice rich in sugar, from which syrup is made Second. onon-saccharine or those which do not contain the sweet juices as the katirs and broom-corn.
 Amber, orange, sumaC or red top, honey or Japanese seeded, and Texas seeded ribbon are the common varie ties of sweet sorghums grown. The amber is the earliest and does not make the yield that the others make although if it is grown early it may be cut for nay twice during the season. The sumac, honey and Texas seeded ribbon are all later maturing and are usually used for syrup and where large yields of forage or silage is wanted. Texas seeded ribbon is es- pecially prized for the large amount of syrup that 1t produces
 The method of planting varies with the use to which these sorghums are to be put For syrup the planting Is done in rows 36 to 42 inches apart. using six to eight pounds of seed to the acre. The worst objection to sorghum for hay is the fact that it is hard to cure, and that the stems are coarse This difficulty can be elimi. mated to some extent by seeding thickly or broadcast1ng about a bushel of seed to the acre. Careful tests in Kansas showed that an acre of sor, ghum put up as silage made more gains with beef animals than an acre of corn used as silage
 Sudan. grass. which has been intro, duced within the last few years, and Johnson grass are very closely relat- ed. They will mix with each other and with the other sorghums. John son grass has large underground stems which enables 1t to spread and become a serious pest in many sections. Su- dan grass has fbrous roots like wheat or corn, lives for only one year and cannot become a pest. Sudan has broader leaf than Johnson grass and the plant is more coarse.
 Sudan promises to be one of our good hay crops. It makes three or four cuttings during the season and if the harvesting Is done just as the crop is heading out it makes a splen. did feed, although not so rich in mus cle making as cowpeas or clover. About 20 pounds of seed per acre broadcast, or 4 to 5 pounds of seed in rows 30 to 36 inches wide, has been found to be the best amount.
 Because of it's persistent habit it is Se1SiDnr~s advisable to seed Johnson grass on clean soil, but on lands that have already become infested it can be made a most profitable crop. On strong soils the three or four yearly cuttings will make as much feed as any other crop.
 Kafir, milo, feterita and shallu are all grown in a small way for grain and for forage although they are not very satisfactor especially in the more humid sections Of the state. Many fields fail to make seed due to a condition commonly known as blight, which is caused by small midge IT insect which lays its egg in the flower just as it opens. The egg hatches into a miniature worm which prevents tho seed from forming Birds also do a great deal or damage by picking oua the seed. As a forage crop this group is generally inferior to the sweet sorghums. Feterita is earlier than kafir or milo and does not make so much forage although if planted early it may make seed when the others fair. Shallu, also known as Egyptian wheat. is inferior in quan- tity and quality of forage and in the o- our. of grain, although the sprangled head generally causes all estimation of the yield to be too high,
 Phe following Farmers Bulletins should be read: "Gorghum Syrup Manufacture" No. AT; Better Grain Sorghum Crops" No. AS; '.Kafir as q Grain Crop" No. b52; ...Uses Of Sor- grum Grain," No 6s6; Broom Corn" No. 174; Sudan Grass as Forage :. Crop" No. 6Ob: "Saccharine 5Sorghums Dor Forage" No. 2IS.