The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1916-07-20
NEW VARIETIES OF
MIllET AND SoRoo
Promising Forage Crops for the
North Central Great
Plains

Two improved var cites of mil
let and one of sor!,O, adpated to
the northern porto of the Great
Plains, are described in Il "ccent
bulletin of the U. 5. Department
Of Agricultural. Millet and sur-
ghum are two of the most suit
able forage crops for this region
and it is believed that the new
varieties have certain distinct
'Nantages over those now COM
monty grown. They were opt.-
ined several years ago by selec-
ton, and developed into uniform
productive and drouyht-resist-
ant strains by segregation OF sup
errors plants. For several years
they have been tested at Newell,
S. d., and at Akron, Colo, the re-
seults of the tests now being re-
ported in a professional paper Of
the u. 5. department of Agricult-
ural by \. C.. DillInan. BY CO.
operative arrangement with the
office of Forage Crop Investiga-
tiOns will be tested at numerous
dry-land stations in comparison
with other varieties of the same
crops, in order that their rela-
tives merit and range of geogra-
phical adaptation may be fully as
certaincd.
Dakota Amber Sorgo
The new s"rgo, as the sacchar-
inc forage sorghums are called to
distinguish them from the grain
sorghums, is known as Dakota
Amber. 1t is dwarf plant, and
under favorable conditions of
moisture does not produce as
large average yields of fodder as
the larger types of sOrgo (Orange
Minnesota Amber and Red Amb-
er.l Under favorable conditions
however. the Dakota Amber was
found to produce i3 per cent
more air-dry forage than Red Am
Der. 1t is believed alos that
thicker planting of the new dwarf
variety will compensate for the
small size of the individual
plants.
Another important character
istic of the new sorgo is its early
maturing. In order that the crop
may have the highest possible
food value. it is necessary to
have the Sorgo. nearly mature at
the time of harvest. Dakota Am
Der will reach this stage i'm from
80 to 90 days after planting. 1t
may cease to grow for a consider
able time during dry period, hut
it will revive with little rain and
grow rapidly. The seed natures
early also.usuay about is days
alter than the froage crop. This,
too, is distinct advantage to the
farmer i'm raising his own seed,
as sorgo seed at the present
time costs from 50 to SIS humid
red pounds.
Where sogr cen DO grown it is
probable hat it will produce a
larger tonnage of fodder than any
other unirrgated forage crop in
this region. At Akron. Colo,
yields or SorgO 20 per cent great
or than millet have been obtained
and similar results have been Sc
cured at Newell and Ardmorc, S
d. Other tests in Colorado and
the Dakotas have shown that
Dakota Amber sorgo produces aS
averages of 40 per cent more
forage than Sudan grass.
The New Millet
Two new varieties of milEet,
Dakota kursk and Siberian. are
discussed in the paper alreaHy
mentioned. The Dakota Kursk
strain has plants 80 to 81 inches
high when mature, with many
rather fine stems and man yleaves
At Akron. the yield of hay from
this variety has averaged 2 i-2
tons per acre, and at Newell ga
tons. The seed head is close
and firm and does not allow the
seed to shatter readily. Under Or
binary conditions it produces from
is to 25 bushels of seed per acre,
80 days after planting. The ex-
cellent seed habits of this variety
lead to the belief that in addition
SCCu lol oNII uSS,
tarme> may find it profitable tu
grow it for commercial markets
The Dakota kursk variety may be-
cut for hay in from 10 to IS days
and this early maturity, as in the
case of the new variety or sorg",
is Il valuable characteristic.
Siberian millet is a larger vari-
ETY. than Dakota kursk, growing
from 36 inches to 40 inches in
height. 1t has cOarser stems
and leaves and makes somewhat
pooer quality of hay. On IT,.
other hand. the yields per acre
are larger. The seed head, how
ever. is much less firm and the
seed skaters more readily. On
the whole, it is believed that Oak
Ota is the better type for the north
ern Great Plains. although, be-
cause of its high yield. Siberian.
millet may be more valuable in
regions Of greater rainfall.
In comparison The relative val