Cleveland County herald., 1918-07-04
SHOULD Utilize
ALL WASTE LAND
1t 10 Not Too Late Yet To Plant For.
age Crops For Animals On
the Farm.
BY c. w. Watson, State Agent, Exten-
sion Division, University of Arkan-
sas, and U. S. Department Of Agri-
culture.

Have you made sufficient prepare
ton for feed and forage crops for ami
mails on the farm? Why would it not
be good thing, when the corn is IaId
by, and the cotton chopping finished,
and the whole labor situation less
tense on the farm, to plant all uncul-
tivated fields and waste patches to ad-
dit!onal forage crops? 1t is well
established fact that some of our
greatest profits from the farm are
made by feeding the home products to
animals, and marketing them in the
form Of meat. Wouldn't this be a spe-
c4ally good practice this year since
by shipping meat instead of grain the
Arkansas demand upon transportation
Aef1niss veufd be lesss The inereas-
- frvfHht sates could be avoided large
~, and the amount of money going
into freight charges would be consid-
erably less. In addition, profits would
be made in many cases upon the labo!.
OF the farm during slack" periods.
Sorghum Will Mature In Ninety Days.
One of the best forage crops that
can be planted is sorghum. AS
roughage that is cheap and yet whole
some sorghum hay when properly
cured has no equal, at least In the
region where 1t is grown. 1t is true
that sorghum can be grown success
fully IN many. different types of soils,
and under varying conditions with
less difficulty than most other crops.
These things make sorghum a good
forage crop Of vital Importance and
its growth should be extended into
every section of the state Perhaps
the amber sorghums are best for hay
and this variety should be planted, as
1t will mature in ninety days and can
be planted as late as July Is, and will
mature before frost.
The sorehums are more often plant
ed broadcast or they are drilled in
rows three feet apart. Cultivation
will go doubt increase the yield and
when planted on a well prepared seed
bed sorghum will give very satisfae-
tory returns.
II broadcasted, sorghum may be
sown with cowpeas, which gives a
very good hay, or may be used for ST
lage.
Sorghum itself is very valuable
crop for silage and may be used with
corn. Sorghum planted with cowpeas
II proportioned and planted properly
perhaps does not give as great forage
yields as sorghum alone but the quail
ity Of the hay is superior, since the le-
gumes supply protein making the for
age almost a complete ration. For this
combination use the Amber variety or
sorghum and the whip-poor-will pea.
The mixture should contain two parts
OF sorghum and five parts of eowpeas
Sorghum grown In rows may be har-
vested when in the late milk stage II
cut at this time tie forage is more
pa1atable and will give the greatest
feeding value per acre. One method
of harvesting is to cut the stalks, tie
in bundles and shock in fields, or Il
may be placed in the barn II there is
suf1cient storage capacity. Don't for.
get 1t makes the very best OF sllags.
II sown broadcast with peas or BY
itself, sorghum should be mown, ral-
ed, and baied. After sorghum Is mown
n should not - left In the swath to
cure but should be raked into wini-
rows and cocks as soon as thoroughly
wilted, which Is usually about one day
after cutting. These cocks left by the
rake should be forked around the
edges and left untouched to settle
and cure.
No better crop can be grown or
made more profitable than sorghum.
Do not run the risk of having to buy
hay to feed your work animals AMI
growing stock on the farm. Plant plen-
ty Of sorghum in the waste patches
during the first fifteen days of July
and you will be sure to have plenty OF
forage.