Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1920-08-31
Sudan Grass.

Len years aIter It's INTRODUCTION 10 the
United States from Khartum, Africa,
Sudan grass was being successfully
grown In nearly all parts of the United
States. 1t does not serve well either as
q money crop" or a soil improver,
b nee il may never find a permanent
p ace in regular crop rotations. 1t has,
nevertheless, very important place in
the farmers second line of defense as q
catch crop which can be planted to give
satisfactory returns when conditions
have brought failure to other hay crops.
This is the verdict pronounced by the
United States Department of Agriculture
in Farmers Bulletin 1925 recently issued.
Sudan grass is replacing millet as the
premier catch crop in many localities be-
cause OF its ability to produce fair
yield and high quality of hay under
conditions of low rainfall, its rather
short growing season, and its ability to
thrive on q wide range of soil types.
Large yields of Sudan grass are obtained
only on good soils, but the grass fails
completely only on cold, poorly drained
land.
Sudan grass produces heavily. In
California under irrigation 1t has made
Yields of 9.S tons of field-cured hay an
acre, when alfalfa produced but S.3 tons
under like conditions; 1t ordinarily
Yields about the same as alfalfa under
irrigation in the southwest, but Sudan
grass gives its full crop in three cuttings
against the four or five required for
alfalfa. 1t is the only grass yet found
which in this part of the United States
ranks as the equal of alfalfa in point of
yield and quality of the hay. Its record
in this respect has led to its use in
patching" old alfalfa fields when the
stand of alfalfa has been destroyed. In
the Southern Great Plains, where there
is a low rainfall, Sudan grass grown
without irrigation will yield from one to
three tons of hay to the acre.
There are certain parts of the United
States where the Department OF Agri-
culture considers il unwise to depend on
Sudan grass for hay. This Is true Of the
strip of territory 200 miles wide along
the northern boundary; the regions OF
high attitudes in the Western States; and
also most of Florida and narrow strip
of land along the Gulf coast. Low tenn
reratures prevent success with the grass
in the first two regions named, and dis.
ease 10 the limiting factor along the Gulf
coast. In the majority of the Central
and Southern States, however, climatic
and soil conditions are favorable TO
Sudan grass.
Although Sudan grass Is best adapted
by nature to use as a hay crop, 1t is also
used with great success as 3 soiling and
pasture crop for summer pastures. Its
use as silage material Is limited BY the
| fact that it is easily made into hay and
! fed as such with very little waste, and
also because corn and sorghum both out
Weld it and are generally available
throughout the region where Sudan
grass Is grown.
In the semi-arid districts the highest
\ Yields are obtained when the grass Ia
sowu In rows SO as to allow of cultiva-
ton. The advantage In yield Of the
row over the drilled seedlings is so small
however, that most farmers prefer to
avoid the necessity OF cultivation BY
drilling or broadcasting the seed. A
common grain drill handles well, cieaneo
Sndan grass seed without trouble, anC
the hay from drilled seedlings Is hne'
stemmed and natures more evenly thar
row paintings. a.
The feeding value of Sudan grass II
equal to timothy bay. In iocaiitie'
where soy beans or cowpeas DO vel
these lscumes may be grown In mixtures
with the Sudan grass. Such mixture
PRODUCES a hay OF higher feeding vain.
than the grass alone, because OF the nigi
proteiu content of the legumes.
Sudan grass hybridizes freely with sn
sorghums. IL is necessary, therefore,
nnre seed is produced, to have tn
lSudan grass field at some distance Iron
sny sorchums, otherwise 1t Will resui
IN a monerel crop the following year.
The Department Of Agrieulture.s ns'
bulletin goes very thoroughly into IN
details Of cropping, planting, harves,
Inr-both for hay and for seed-as we
a. the best methods OF feeding the ma
/ 20 the live stock.