Summer Fodders for the North. 337 



for agricultural convenience be divided into tlie saccliarino and the 

 non-saccharine varieties. Early amber cane and other varieties of 

 amber cane form examples of the first-named division, while 

 Dhoura, Kaffir corn, Jerusalem and Egyptian corn, which are coming 

 more into favour as forage plants, are examples of the latter division. 

 The percentage of sugar in these is small compared with that in 

 amber cane, from which sugar and treacle may easily be obtained. 

 The seeds of the sorghum are much smaller than those of maize, and 

 do not germinate so freely. They are useful for poultry and pigs, 

 and in many places the seeds are extensively used in making a kind 

 of flour for porridge. It is only as a green forage, as ensilage, or 

 hay, that the sorghums interest the farmers of the n(jrthern parts, 

 particularly the first-named. 



Although sorghum will thrive under less favourable conditions of 

 soil and climate than maize, still it needs a well prepared seed bed 

 and almost the same general treatment that is given to the maize crop. 

 Drilling in the seed is better than broadcasting it, as the germination 

 will be more regular. In the latter case a good deal is not covered 

 sufficiently or may be covered too deeply. The young plants are 

 delicate looking, but as soon as they become well-rooted and firmly 

 established a harrowing will be beneficial, provided the seeding be not 

 too thin. In order to get the best results, a few cultivations between 

 the drills are needed, more particularly in the drier districts, but as a 

 rule the crop, after being drilled in, is left to its own resources, though 

 sometimes the harrows are run over the young plants. 



The time to sow sorghums and maize is as soon as the soil is warm, 

 which varies from the end of September to the end of November. 

 After November the germination is irregular owing to the fewer 

 showers, but in order to provide feed for sheep and cattle to graze 

 on during the end of autumn, a succession of sowings may be carried 

 out until the end of December, and even later, but there is not the 

 same chance of success as with the earlier sown crop. 



The amount of seed to sow to the acre varies according to the 

 conditions of climate and soil. In moister climates thick sowings 

 are more likely to suit, but in the hot dry districts the thinner sowings 

 are much more satisfactory. From 12 to 24 inches between the drills 

 where no after-cultivation is given, and the plants from 5 to 8 inches 

 apart would be the limits that give the best general returns over a 

 number of years. Unfortunately, especially with broom corn, the 

 seeds sold are frequently immature or old, and do not germinate well, 

 though sometimes the non-success is due to bui-ying the seed too 

 deep. Two inches below the surface should be the limit in most soils, 

 and when the drills are 2 feet apart it will take from 4 to 6 lbs. of 

 seed per acre in this district. The latter seeding would allow the use 

 of the light harrows, with teeth deflected backwards, once just before 

 the plantlets appeared, and again after they were established. In 

 America the seeding is much heavier, and would go as high as 

 two bushels to the acre when providing pasture for sheep in the more 

 favoured districts, and diminishing to three-quarters of a bushel in 



