FORAGE CROPS 227 



hulls. The plant is of little value for dry-land culture, although 

 perhaps a good crop for irrigated land in the Southwest. It 

 has been widely and fraudulently advertised as " California 

 wheat," " Mexican wheat," " Egyptian wheat," " Palestine 

 wheat," and " Desert wheat-corn." 



297. Durra and milo. The durras, which include milo, have 

 slender stems, dry pith, only from 8 to 10 leaves, compact, oval, 

 sometimes pendent heads, and large, nearly round, flattened 

 seeds. They come chiefly from northern and central Africa. 

 They are smaller and earlier than the kafirs and less valuable 

 for fodder, but better adapted to grain production in dry areas 

 with short seasons. 



298. Feterita. Feterita is a new variety of the durra group, 

 which was brought to the semiarid West from Africa in 1907. 

 It is marked by erect heads, white seeds, fairly dwarf stature, 

 and early maturity. The seeds, however, are larger and softer, 

 and do not germinate so well as the other sorghums. Although 

 feterita promises to be of considerable value as a dry-land crop, 

 it is yet too early to predict its permanent place and value as a 

 forage crop. 



299. Regions favorable to sorghums. Sorghums are especially- 

 adapted to warm, dry regions because of their ability to with- 

 stand drought. Some varieties also escape or evade drought 

 through earliness or dwarf stature. They all excel corn in their 

 ability to remain dormant during periods of drought and to re- 

 commence growth when the drought is broken. Several million 

 acres are grown annually in Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas and the 

 adjacent states, and in California. 



300. Culture. Except when sorgos are drilled closely for 

 hay, they are sown in rows about three and one-half feet apart 

 and cultivated. They may be surface-planted or listed, according 

 to local needs. They should be planted only after the ground 

 has become warm, usually from ten to fifteen days later than 

 corn. The young plants grow slowly at first and need clean 

 land. The sorgos and kafir plants remain green until the seed 

 is ripe. The leaves on durras, milos, and kaoliangs usually 



