OCR Text |
Show GRASS FOR SEMI-ARID WEST Under Dry Conditions Sudan Variety Has Succeeded Admirably Good Results From Broadcasting. Hay and forage production has been greatly increased by the importation impor-tation and adaptation of several plants, the cultivation of which has been experimented with and fostered by the L'nited States department of agriculture through its bureau of plant industry until their suitability and reliability for the desired purpose have been fully demonstrated and the desired purpose have been fully demonstrated and their cultivation established. es-tablished. Two of these are treated In two pamphlets, entitled "Sudan Grass, a New Drought-Resistant Hay Plant" (B. P. I. Circular 125), and "Vetch Growing in the South Atlantic States" (Farmers' Bulletin 529). In the semi-arid west, where -co perennial per-ennial grass has thus far been found suited to the conditions, Sudan grass promises high value for hayr Indeed It Is not too much to predict that there it is destined to become the leading grass for hay production. Under Un-der more humid conditions it has also succeeded admirably, and will probably prob-ably replace fox-tail millets to a large extent, as it produces better hay and usually larger yields. There is still much to learn in regard re-gard to the crop, but it has been tested test-ed most carefully In Texas, as well as at Arlington Farm, Va., and has had at least a year's trial at many places on the great plains and at various agricultural ag-ricultural experiment stations, and the data at hand indicates approximately the best methods of culture. Under light rainfall conditions, It is probably best to sow Sudan grass in rows, yet excellent results have been secured In dry regions from broadcasting, broadcast-ing, and the grass grown that way does not become too coarse for palatable palata-ble hay. Although very similar la appearance to Johnson grass, it is considered far superior as a forage crop, as it is more bunchy, putting out more stems and many more leaves. Horses and cows eat it greedily, none of the stems, which contain a great deal of sugar, being wasted, as la often the case with the coarser grasses. |