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Show GROW FORAGE CROPS Sorghum Is Most Profitable Under Average Conditions. Is Drouth Resistant and May Wilt and Dry Up Until Ready to Be Blown Away and Still Make Excellent Crop. In answer to the query, "What forage for-age crops would it be advisable to grow in western Nebraska? the Dry Farming Institute makes the following follow-ing reply: If we are to take the average tableland table-land farm, under average conditions, then we must agree that sorghum is the most profitable forage crop. It is the only crop, aside from corn, kaffir corn and the grains that promises much forage. Alfalfa will produce one and a half tons per acre during favorable seasons, but during dry seasons the tonnage of alfalfa will be very light. Kaffir corn will withstand with-stand more drouth than sorghum, but does not do so well as sorghum when sown broadcast, and does not mature seed under normal conditions in much of western Nabraska. The seed must be shipped in at considerable expense, while the farmer can grow cane seed. Corn will not withstand as much drouth as sorghum and will not produce pro-duce as large tonnage. The common grains are not very desirable for forage for-age since they are more valuable for the grain they produce during favorable favor-able years and yield but a small tonnage ton-nage during unfavorable years. Millet Mil-let sometimes gives a rather large tonnage, but it more often does rot give satisfactory results in yield. The hay must be fed with extreme care to horses, if fed at all. Sorghum is the most certain crop of all these to mature forage. This is due to two factors. It is by nature a drouth resistant. It may wilt and dry up till it is about ready to be blown away and still make a crop if given sufficient water during the period of fall rains. It need not be sown till the middle of June, or even later. This permits the accumulation of moisture in the soil in which the cane seed is to be planted. With seasons of normal rainfall the first six feet of the soil may be saturated with moisture at seeding time if the proper cultivation has been given. This is a great factor In crop production. It may be planted in rows with a lister, corn planter or drill, and cultivated. culti-vated. This method is certain to produce pro-duce forage. The usual practice Is to sow it broadcast or with a press drill, at the rate of four pecks per acre. It should be sown in June, so that the first heads will begin to ripen about the time frost may be expected. It should be cut with a mower before it Is frosted, or the first day after it Is frosted. The object in sowing it late is to have it begin to ripen at the time of the first killing frost. If cut at this time there is not much probability proba-bility of Its being damaged by rain while In the swath or windrow. It should be cut when the first heads begin to turn black or red. If cut in August or in the early part of September Septem-ber it is likely to be lying in the swath or windrow; if will stand much abuse without being rendered unfit for feed, yet it is better, if it is put into the shock or stack while bright. Cane or sorghum should be put Into windrows as soon' as it has become thoroughly wilted. This will require about two days of sunshine. It usual-'y usual-'y requires several weeks before It may be stacked with safety. One satisfactory sat-isfactory way is to shock It after it has cured in the windrow. It may be shocked with but little hard labor by using a hay sweep to sweep it into piles. One man with a team and sweep, and two men to follow with forks will shock 35 or more tons per day. Two sweep loads pushed together to-gether and topped with a fork make desirable shocks to haul from during the winter, where It Is not deemed necessary to stack all the cane. Some should be stacked to carry stock through the storms while the snow covers the shocks. This forage ranks with prairie hay in feeding value. It is a satisfactory feed for cattle, and for horses both during the winter and during the working season. Where feeding cane as the only forage, the grain ration should be oats or barley rather than all corn, as the sorghum is a starchy food like corn. If one-fourth or one-half one-half of the forage ration Is alfalfa better bet-ter results will be secured than from .sorghum alone, or from sorghum and prairie hay. Sorghum is beyond question ques-tion the leading forage crop for western west-ern Nebraska table-land. In the valleys, val-leys, where there is irrigation or sub-irrigation, sub-irrigation, alfalfa is the prominent forage crop. |