432 JOUENAL OF THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



Uses. 



Sudan grass may be compared to the millets in that it makes .-i 

 hug'e crop of liay in a short season of warm weather. It is preferable 

 to millets, however, in that the hay is mnch superior and can be fed 

 to all kinds of stock without injury to them. AV^hile it is closely 

 related to other cultivated sorghums,, it has much finer stems, enabling 

 it to be readily cured as hay. It is an excellent croj) to sow with 

 cowpeas for hay and silage. It grows strictly erect, with a stem stifl* 

 cnoiigli to support tlie vines characteristic; of most legumes, and it 

 makes the harvesting easier by keeping the legumes •)& the ground. 

 It also allows them to cure quickly by ])roventing the leaves from 

 matting. 



PRKr.\RAii()\ or THE Sekd-hed. 



The land should be plouglied early in spring, or preferably in 

 the winter months, with a subsequent cross-ploughing or cultivation 

 ill spring so as to get the seed-bed into a line tilth before the seeding 

 takes place, and also to destroy what weed-growth there is. 



Although file plant is very hardy and can withstand a great 

 deal of drought it can be readily understood that to obtain the 

 maximum yield it requires moisture and plant food. In order to 

 store moisture in the ground where the crop can make use of it 

 (hiring dry spells, it is necessary to plough deeply and to harrow 

 immediately after ploughing, so as to establish a mulch which will 

 jirevent the moisture from escaping. 



Seeding. 



Sudan grass seed is best sown after the soil has warmed somewhat, 

 about the same time or a little earlier than maize or millet. 



The seed can be either sown broadcast or planted with an ordinary 

 seed-drill. For seed production it is best sown in rows 3 ft. apart; 

 a mealie-planter can be used. In moist soils seed should be sown at 

 a depth of from i-1 in. For hay production it is best sown broadcast, 

 as by a thick sowing finer stems are secured, resulting in a more 

 I)alatable fodder. 



The rate of seeding per acre varies from 2-30 lb. according to 

 the method employed. When sown broadcast 15-20 lb. of seed per 

 acre are necessary. In districts with a low rainfall a light seeding is 

 more profitable, while in humid regions or under irrigation 20 ib. is 

 not too heavy. If the ground is weedy or the seed-bed poorly pre- 

 pared, 30 lb. is better. For seeding in cultivated rows, 36-44 in. 

 apart, 2-4 lb. seed per acre are sufficient, Avhile in rows 18-24 in. 

 apart 4-6 lb. per acre will be required, the less quantity being used, 

 as in the broadcast seeding, for regions of light rainfall. 



Cultivation. 



The crop should receive a harrowing soon after it shows above 

 ground, and where it is planted in rows far enough apart to allow 

 inter-tillage it should receive regular cultivations to keep down the 

 weeds and to conserve moisture until the crop has become well estab- 

 lished and is shading the ground. 



