SUDAN GRA88 



319 



valuable annual pasture crop, supplying an abundance of 

 feed for cattle, sheep, and hogs. Cattle should be pastured 

 on it rather sparingly at first, for there is some danger from 

 poisoning, particularly if the growth has been stunted from 

 drought or frost. 

 There is no danger 

 from feeding sor- 

 ghum fodder, as the 

 poisonous principle 

 seems to disappear 

 in curing. Another 

 use of sorghum is in 

 clearing the land of 

 weeds. For this pur- 

 pose it should be 

 sown in close rows. 

 As the growth of the 

 crop is slow at first, 

 the land should be 

 harrowed once or 

 twice in the direction 

 of the rows about the 

 time the sorghum 

 comes up, in order to 

 check the weeds and 

 give it a chance. If 

 the land is thus har- 

 rowed, the crop will 



soon start into rapid growth and make a dense shade which 

 is effective in smothering out all other plants. 



418. Sorghmn Sirup. When first introduced, sorghum 

 was grown only for the production of sirup and great hopes 

 were entertained that it could also be used for the econom- 

 ical production of sugar. It is possible to make sugar of 

 f^ood quality from sorghum juice, but the process is too ex- 



Figure 110. — The spreading panicle of Amber sor- 

 ghuna, the best early variety for the North. 



