The courier-index., 1918-07-05
SHOULD UTILIZE
ALL WASTE LAND
o. Is Not Too Late Vet To Plant FoF-
age Crops For Animals On
the Farm.
BY C. w. Watson, State Agent. Exten-
sion Division, University OF Arkan-
sas. and IT, s. Department OF Agri-
culture.

Have you made sufficient prepararl
ton for feed and forage crops for ami
mails on the farm. Why would it not
be good thing. when the corn is rara
by, and the cotton chopping finished.
and the whole labor situation less
tense on the farm. to plant all uncui-
tivated fields and waste patches to adj
ditional forage crops? 1t is a wei
established fact that some OF our
greatest profits from the farm arc
MADE by feeding the home products to
animals. and marketing them in tho
form of meat Wouldn't this be spe-
cially good practice this year. since
by shipping meat instead OF grain the
Arkansas demand upon transportation
facilities would be less. The increas-
ed freight rates could be avoided large
iy, and the amount OF money going
into freight charges would be consid-
arably less. In addition. profits would
be made In many cases upon the labor
OF the farm during slack periods.
Sorghum viii 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 it is grown. II 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 sooa
forage crop of vital Importance ana
its growth should be extended ints
every section OF the state Perhaps
the amber sorghums are best for hay
and this variety should be planted. az
It will mature in ninety days and can
be planted as late as July Is, and v'u
mature before frost. !,
The sorghums are more often plant
ed broadcast or they are drilled III
rows three feet apart. Cultivation
will no doubt increase the yield ana
when planted on a well prepared seedt
bed sorghum will give very satisfao
tory returns.
IL broadcasted, sorghum may bel
sown with cowpeas, which gives a
very good hay, or may be used for al
lage. W I.
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
fly OF the hay Is superior. since the ie-
gumes supply protein, making the for
age almost complete ration. For this
combination use the Amber variety or
sorghum and the whippoor-wiii pea
The mixture should contain two parts
of sorghum and FIVE parts of cowpeas-
Sorghum grown In rows may be har.
vested when in the late milk stage. IL
cut at this time the forage is more
palatable and will give the greatest
feeding value per acre. One method
OF harvesting fs to cut the stalks. tie
In bundles and shock in fields. or
may be placed in the barn II there ~
sufficient storage capacity. Don't for
get it makes the very best OF silage
Ii sown broadcast with peas or By
itself. sorghum should be mo2n, rakk..
cd. and baled. After sorghum is mown
II should not be left in the swath to
cure but should be raked into. wind
rows and cocks as soon as Thoroughly
wilted. which is usually about one day
after cutting. These cocks ieftsby the
rake should be forked around tha
edges and left untouched to settle
and cure. 'ts
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 and
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