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THE FARMERS HANDBOOK. 



be made to give profitable returns when cropped with sorghum. It is an 

 extremely hardy crop, and seems to have the power of drawing upon refrac- 

 tory soils for its requirements, In districts where maize and sorghum can 

 be grown, the system can be satisfactorily adopted of utilising these poorer 

 areas for the growth of sorghum, while the fertile soil is used for the more 

 fastidious maize crop. 



Sorghum gives profitable yields on sandy country, and on poor, stiff 

 clay suils. Its cultivation for green feed can be highly recommended on all 

 soils of the Hawkesbury sandstone series, the Wianamatta shale of the county 

 of Cumberland, and, generally speaking, for all soils too poor for the best 

 growth of maize. 



Climate. 



Practically the only limiting factor in the growth of sorghum is tempera- 

 ture. Frosts kill it if they occur while the crop is young, and in districts 

 with very short summers it cannot be successfully grown. The range of 

 choice in varieties is so wide, however, that it is only in the very coldest 

 districts of the State that it cannot be grown. Broadly, the higher the 

 temperature the greater is its development. The optimum conditions for 

 growth are high temperatures, humid atmosphere, and abundance of moisture. 

 Under such conditions, a crop once sown can be cut several times without 

 resowing. 



Although sorghum makes its best growth where the rainfall is large, it 

 must not be assumed that such a condition is necessary. The feature which 

 renders this crop so valuable is the capability of withstanding drought, which 

 it possesses in a higher degree than any other crop of such a succulent nature. 

 The young plants are somewhat delicate, and require fairly good conditions, 

 but, when once established, they will go through extremely dry periods 

 without being adversely affected. The crop merely lies dormant, and, when 

 rain falls, immediately makes a vigorous growth. Maize, under such circum- 

 stances, becomes stunted, and fails to recover. This renders sorghum one of 

 the most suitable crops for districts where the rainfall is precarious. 



Provided the seed germinates well, and the young plants get a good start, a 

 crop is practically assured. A regular rainfall is not required ; a good 

 fall or two at any time during the growing season is sufficient to cause a 

 heavy growth. 



Sorghum is susceptible to frost whilst growing, but, after it has reached 

 maturity, it is not affected to nearly the same extent as maize. Further 

 growth is prevented by frosting, but the leaves and stems do not lose their 

 succulence, and its valuable nature as feed is maintained for a month or more 

 afterwards. This renders sorghum useful fcr continuing the supply of green 

 feed into winter. A practice which is largely followed in providing feed for 

 dairy cows, is to sow maize at successive periods, so that it will provide feed 

 until about May, when it is expected that frosts will cut it down and render 

 it practically useless. A supply is then ensured by planting sorghum about 

 January, which will continue the supply from May till the end of June. 

 Where the soil is good and the climate favourable, it is* frequently sown 

 earlier and cut so that a second growth will be made for winter feed. By 

 combining sorghum with maize in this way, a continuous supply of green 

 feed is obtained until the autumn-sown cereals are available. 



