The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1916-03-23
SUDAN GRASS SEED
ISSELL|NG CHEAPER
Demand Has Resulted in Largely In
creased Production and Conse-
quent Reduction in Price.

Sudan grass, the new annual hay
grass introduced from Sudan in 1909,
was so enthusiastically received by
the farmers in the semiarid portion
of the United States that in 1913 the
seed which was available only in lin
tied quantities sold readily at 81 per
pound and even more. These unusual
prices gave Sudan grass seed produc-
tion a great impetus, so that in 1914
seed was much more abundant, the
crop being roughly estimated at from
five to six million pounds. Three or
four million pounds of this amount
were produced in western Texas,
where for a time an attempt was
made to maintain the price at 81 per
pound. In other localities, however,
the seed was offered at 25 to 80 cents
per pound, and as a result of this
great deal of the Texas seed Of the
1914 crop remained unsold in 1915.
This surplus seed carried over from
1914, together with that from the
1915 crop, has fully supplied the de-
mand, and the price of seed has drop
ped to 5 cents or less pound whole
sale, and from to 10 cents a pound
retail. Under favorable conditions
seed can be profitably grown for 5
cents per pound, since yields of 500
pounds per acre are quite common,
and 1,000spounds per acre very often
are obtained under favorable condi-
tions without irrigation. With irri-
CATION the yields may reach 1000
pounds per acre. Sudan grass is US
ually grown in cultivated rows when
seed crop is desired. Planted in
this way it is readily harvested with
row binder, and after curing we'll in
the field it can be thrashed with an
ordinary grain separator. Since no
especial machinery is required to
handle the seed crop, the expenses
are reduced to minimum, and there
remains no reason why the seed
should not be reasonably cheap and
abundant.
} The most dangerous weed pest OF
, Sudan grass fields is Johnson grass
This grass is common in the South
and not infrequently occurs in fields
} of Sudan grass. The seeds of John
4 son grass resemble Sudan grass sc
= closely that only the very closest ex.
animation will reveal their presence
I ence.
An admixture of johnson grass
does not injure the quality of the
Sudan grass hay crop, but it is mat
ter of decided Importance when il
comes to the production of seed fol
market purposes. Those who have
land in the South free from johnson
Grass consider 1t decided injustice
to be sold Sudan grass seed contain
ing an admixture of johnson grass
A method has been discovered where
by it is possible to identify, with
reasonable certainty, the seed OF
Johnson grass when it is mixed Will
that of Sudan grass. This method oi
seed examination, however, can not
| DO considered as an unfailing protec
| sjon against infestation of farmer
| colds with johnson grass. A safer
Il nlan is for the southern farmer tC
| rrow his own seed where possible OF
| purchase seed that has been grow
| lorth of the Johnson grass area, tina
q. north of line where JohnsOI
rrass persists in the soil as peren
nial. In the region where wlnte
freezes are severe enough to kill thu
underground rootstocks very llttl'
Johnson grass is found. The cnl,
| way seed of it can occur In Sudai
grass seed, therefore, is through viii
ful mixing of the seed, but as John
sen grass seed can not be grown s.
chaaply as Sudan grass seed there i
: now no object in such adulteratioD
Where reasonable care is used by tn
! ICED grower to obtain pure seed wit
{ which to plant his fields in the Mort
! there then remains little chance of a
Z admixture with seed of johnson
4 grass.
Z Many of the farmers in the Sout
4 will be forced to buy their seed, be
{ cause the presence of the sorghum
I midge in humid parts of the Souther
: States interferes seriously with see
+ production. Th midge is most abun
Z dant close to the Gulf of Mexico, an
4 there fits attacks result in almos
+ complete sterility of the Sudan gras!
I Farther north in these States, wher
y the midge is not so abundant nor S
{ uniformly present throughout th
/ summer, partial crop Of seed ofte
Z can be obtained, and in some cases
/ full! crop of seed will set during
{ period when the midge is not presen
! In the dry atmosphere farther Yves
& the midge is not troublesome, and
i Arizona, New Mexico, and Californi
( large yields of seed can be obtaine
I under irrigation.
Z Sudan grass deserves much wit
4 er use as hay crop throughout til
e Southarn States and in the irripate