American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1916-03-23
DRY FARM CROPS FOR
LATE PLANTING

SOrgnumS, DednS, peanuts, ttC., dic hOt
planted until May or June, yet it is
all the better II the land for them is
plowed as soon as possible after the
frost is out of the ground, and disc
ed and narrowed every once in awhile
until planting time.
Land treated in this manner (spring
fallowed) will hold the moisture better
and support crops in a drouth without
firing much longer than land planted
Immediately after blowing. Although
sometimes a fair crop of feed may be
raised on last minute blowing, which
is always needed by the stockman, yet
for those who raise grain for market
the late blowing should be used as a
summer fallow to be planted to winter
wheat in August or September.
Dry farmers are depending more on
the sorghum family for feed than ever
before. Cane, milo, Sudan grass, kafir
corn, feterita, ETC., are ali de~servedly
popular, and have their own individual
characteristics which adapts them to
certain conditions.
An important factor in raising some
of them is heat. Some farmers in the
| hills last year were disappointed with
| Sudan grass-their altitude was too
great, the nights too cool; they ought
to have planted amber ane.
This amber cane, or sorghum, will
stand a cooler climate than any of the
others. Kafir corn, feterita, milo and
Sudan grass all belong in the hot
plains, and not too far north, at that.
Experience alone will show where the
lines can be drawn, for even in the far
North 1t is often hotter in the plains
than in the foothill region of Wyoming
and Colorado.
These crops, like corn, are very re-
~sponsive to deep blowing, which is the
principal factor in raising a heavy
yield. The most popular variety for
grain is dwarf milo, and stock and
chickens take to 1t as readily as they
do to millet; but as a rule do not pre-
fer 1t to small grain. Ground up and
used as a mash, 1t is very nourishing
with a high food value. The amount
OF seed used per acre for all the sorg-
huns. except Sudan grass, is from six
to ten pounds per acre for fodder, and
about four to six pounds for grain. 1t
is in invariable rule in dry farming
that the amount of seed used should
match the conditions. The farmer that
plows ten inches deep brings as much
top soil into play on one acre as the
farmer who plows five inches does on
two acres; therefore, naturally, he can
plant more seed. The season also
should be taken into consideration; If
the outlook is promising, with plenty
OF moisture in the ground, more seed
may be planted han where the reverse
, is the case.
! Plant Seed Sparingly.
There is also an old fallacy which
we might refer to, which says, "Al
. ways plant plenty of seed so as to
I shade the ground" The trouble with
i this is that the plant uses up ten times
, as much moisture than is saved by the
shade 1t affords. This is also a very
. good reason why we never plant a
nurse crop with alfalfa. Sudan grass
2 Is n Of the hot weather sorghums,
E and in this relation ranks with kafr
corn or milo. 1t is planted very much
the same as the lattcr-one or two
= seeds in each hill, about ten inches
, laDarf This rauuirac uouaII, fro,, .uro
! and one-half to three pounds of seed
, to the acre. All these seeds of the
sorghum family are planted about an
|, inch deep with the corn planter; but
: special plates have to be used, and II
the farmer is a novice in the work, he
should start up the planter on a piece
OF hard ground where he can count the
seeds and test the matter out before
) getting down to business.
{ Last year in northern Colorado two
/ and a half tons to the acre of Sudan
{ grass fodder were raised on eight-inch
/ blowing. and three and one-half on ten
inch blowing in the southern part the
first cutting.
= ~ StNa a. PilhNtu ny JUN
: first, and the weather warm, two cut
: tngs can usually be secured; but II
the cain crop is intended for seed
: the chances of second cutting are slim
These crops should be kept cultivated
In the same n as corn.
Peanuts have of late years beer
: much recommended for southern Colo
RADIO. New Mexico. etc. and the Span.
ish is the best variety for the dry
farms. being the old Spanish peanut
adapted to dry conditions in Mexico
They are planted in rows about three
, feet apart, and cultivated until they
spread out too much to continue this
work. when they are laid by. II the
| seed is good. one nut in the hill, eight
cen inches apart. set two inches deep
Is about right for the dry farm. II
harvested for market, they are listed
one about every five or six inches, and
the rows about three feet apart. 1.
| tho land is daaplv nlouaa ana ~,~h