SUDAK GRASS. 17 



seed. The yield of seed was about 3 bushels aud was harvested the first week 

 in Noveuiber. 



That planted on July 13 did not mature seed before frost, but was ready for 

 cutting for hay after the middle of October. 



The grass seems very promising for this section, aud it appears from the late 

 seeding that over a large part of Maryland it would be possible to sow the 

 grass after Avheat and harvest a crop of hay that year. 



The hay was relishe<l very much by our dairy cows, aud our dairymen were so 

 enthusiastic over it that they asked for a field of this for hay for the cows 

 next year. 



\ VIRGINIA. 



At the Virginia Agricultural Experiment Station a small test gave 

 the following data : 



The Sudan grass was broadcasted on a plat of one-fiftieth of an acre, but was 

 not harvested until nearly mature (September 11). when it was S* feet tall. 

 The plat yielded 200 pounds of coarse hay, or at the rate of 5 tons per acre. 

 The chief criticism offered as a hay plant is its coarseness. 



NEAV JERSEY. 



From the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station Director 

 J. G. Lipman sent the following report : 



The Sudan grass was seeded in the spring, and the seeding was followed by 

 decidedly unfavorable weather conditions. We had a severe drought in June 

 and July. Nevertheless, the crop in question made fairly satisfactory growth 

 and yielded on poor land a crop equivalent to 1 ton of dry matter per acre. 

 The hay made from the Sudan grass was better in quality than that we could 

 have made from millet grown under the same conditions. It is Mr. Owen's 

 opinion that on the whole Sudan grass will compare favorably with millet as 

 to growth under trying climatic and soil conditions and that it will produce 

 a hay of better quality. It is my impression that on better soil and under more 

 favorable climatic conditions Sudan grass should yield a crop equivalent to 

 2 or even more tons of hay per acre. 



REPORTS OF EXPERIMENTAL TRIALS BY FARMERS. 



TEXAS. 



A detailed report of particular interest was received from Mr. 

 F. J. McCarthy, Boerne, Tex., under date of September 4, 1912 : 



I deferred planting the seed. Seeing no sign of rain on April 18 and knowing 

 there was not enough moisture in the soil to sprout the seed, I thought it best 

 to plant the seed in the dust and take my chances of the first rain sprouting 

 the seed. I had plowed a piece of new land in November, 19il. This land had 

 received two harrowings; one December 10, 1911, the other Febi'uary 14, 1912. 

 This land is dry upland and was covered with a heavy growth of post oak, 

 blackjack, and live-oak timber. April IS, 1912, I opened seven furrows. 100 

 yards long, 3 feet apart, and 2 inches deep. I planted the Sudan grass seed 

 in furrows and covered the seed 2 inches deep with the dry dust. April 2.j 

 we had a drizzling rain which lasted from 8 a. m. until 10.30 a. m. May 1 

 the grass appeared above ground, about half of a stand. On investigation I 

 found the other half of the seed dry and untouched by the moisture. May 4 we 

 had a light rain, lasting from 6 a. m. to 7 a. m., not enough to sprout the 

 dry seed. 



[Cir. 125] 



