SORGHUMS 95 



deficiency than with Maize. Good crops of the different 

 varieties of Sorghum can be raised on various classes of fertile, 

 friable soils, but they produce the heaviest yields of herbage 

 when cultivated on deep, rich, friable loams. The land for 

 Sorghum should be brought to a good tilth before the crop is 

 put in. The seed should be sown in summer, but not before 

 the ground is thoroughly warm, as cold, damp weather will 

 often prevent germination and vigorous growth after the seed 

 has sprouted. If the crop is required for hay, it is best to 

 sow the seed broadcast at the rate of one bushel to the acre, 

 then the resulting seedlings will not develop coarse stems. 

 Crops intended as auxilliary feed in a matured state should 

 be drilled in at the rate of from ten to fifteen pounds' weight 

 of seed to the acre. The proper time to cut Sorghum for 

 feeding to stock has always been a problem with growers. 

 Many experienced dairymen do not cut the crop until the 

 first flowers appear, as they consider that the plant has not 

 developed its highest nutritive qualities until then. In the 

 warmer and more humid districts, the aftermath from a 

 Sorghum hay crop is often considerable, and makes excellent 

 stock feed. Dairymen sometimes cut broadcasted Sorghum 

 when from three to four feet high, and continue cutting the 

 aftermath throughout the season. 



The following varieties of saccharine Sorghum are 

 amongst the more favourably known : 



Early Amber Cane is a rather quick-growing variety, and 

 certainly one of the best and sweetest of the Sorghums. 

 Cattle are remarkably fond of the plant, and thrive on it. 

 Under ordinary conditions this variety will yield three large 

 cuttings in one season. 



Planters' Friend (brown seed) is a favourite variety with 

 stockowners. It is of slower growth and coarser in the stalk 



