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Show ' SUDAN GRASS GAINING FAVOR Plant Is Decidedly .Drought Resistant, Making It vVell Suited for the Semlarld Regions. (By J. C. HACKI.EMAN. Missouri College Col-lege of Agriculture.) Tests of sudau grass by the Missouri lerlcultural experiment r'ation during tha last two years Indicate that this new crop will be of value to Missouri tanners, especially In the southern part of the state. Seed may be secured se-cured from any reliable seedsman, but It Is well to take the precaution of buying northern-grown seed so as to avoid the possibility of Introducing Jihnson grass. Sudan grass Is a tall, rank growing, annual grass closely related to the cultivated sorghums and resembling Johnson grass. It differs from Johnson John-son grass, however, In not possessing the heavy root stalks or underground stems which make Johnson grass so difficult to eradicate In those regions which are well suited for 'is production. produc-tion. The plants average from three to five feet In height when drilled or broadcasted and have stems a .ittle larger than a lead pencil. If grown In rows and cultivated. It reaches a height of from six to i ino fee; on good soil with a corresponding increase in-crease In the size of the stems. When planted thinly it stools very freely, sometimes producing as many as 100 stems from one crown. Like the other sorghums, Sudan grass does best in a warm climate. It should not be planted until all danger -f frost is pjist and the ground thoroughly thor-oughly warmed. It Is decidedly drought resistant, which makes it well suited for the semlarid rtglcns of the Southwest. South-west. It Is also being grown with success In the mere humid regions, lut It has not attracted as much attention at-tention there as in the drier be tlons wheie there are not bo many ether good hay plants. Two cuttings are usually made, and under very favorable favor-able conditions sometimes three 01 four. It has rather wide adaptations as regards soil, growing successfully on almost every soil, from a heavy clay to a light sand. It does best, however, on a rich, well-drained loam. Two methods of seeding are practiced, prac-ticed, broadcasting or drilling solid, or drilling in rows to be cultivated, .n ordinary grain drill may be used and the seed covered from one-half to one inch deep. Where drilled In rows a sufficient number of the holes are stopped up to put the rows the proper distant apart. Where an ordinary corn cultivator is to be used, the rows should be from 36 to 42 inches apart. Whero seeded broadcast from 20 to 25 pounds of seed tt, the acre are required, re-quired, while seeding with a drill requires re-quires about five pounds less. II seeded in rows four to five pounds is sufficient. It is customary to cut it for hay just after full bloom and to cure In light windrows and small cocks. It may also be harvested with a binder and cured in shocks. |
