The Little River news., 1919-01-11


 Have you made sufficient prepara- ton for feed and forage crops for ani- mals on the farm? Why would it not he good thing, when the corn is laid 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 ditional forage crops? It is a we'll 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 spe- cially good practice this year, since by shipping meat instead of grain the Arkansas demand upon transportation facilities would be less? The increas- cd freight rates could be avoided large ly, 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 "siack" periods. Sorghum Will Mature in Ninety Days.
 One 0f the best forage crops that can be planted is sorghum. As . roughaSe that is cheap and yet whole some sorghum hay when properly cured has no equal, at least in the region where it is grown. Ut 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 sor~hum 8 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 it win mature in ninety days and can be plaA&ed as late as July Is. and will mature before frost.
 The sorghums are more often plant ed broadcast or they are drilled in rows three feet apart. Cultivation will no doubt increase the yield and when planted on a we'll prepared seed bed sorghum will give very satisfac- tory returns.
 If broadcasted. sorghum may be sown with cowpeas, which gives a very good hay, or may be used for si- lage.
 , Sorghum itself is very valuable crop for silage and may be used with corn. Sorghum planted with cowpeas if 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 of sorghum and the whippoor-will pea. The mixture should contain two parts of sorghum and five parts of cowpeas.
 Sorghum grown in rows may be hac- cut at this time the forage is more palatable and will give the greatest feeding value per acre. One method of harvesting is to cut the stalks, tic in bundles and shock in fields, or it may be placed in the barn if there js sufficient storage capacity. Don't for get it makes the very best of silage.
 If sovn broadcast with peas or by itself. sorghum should be mown, rak- ed, and baled. After sorghum is mown it should not be left in the swath to cure but should be raked into winl- rows and cocks as soon as thoroughly wilted, which is usually about one day after cutting. These cocks left by the rake should be fceked 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 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 forage.