450 THE farmers' handbook. 



Preparation of the Soil. 



The preparation is largely determined by the nature of the soil, character 

 of the climate, and the time of sowing. It is primarily intended to bring 

 into action the inert or unavailable plant-food to facilitate the growth of 

 roots, and to place the soil in such a condition that it will absorb the warmth 

 and moisture essential to germination of the seed and to growth. 



In all cases deep ploughing should be» given to allow the extensive root 

 system to freely develop. The luxuriant growth makes heavy demands upon 

 the soil moisture, and even in districts which normally have a good rainfall 

 it is as well to prepare for possible contingencies by encouraging the roots to 

 extend deeply into the soil. 



On the coast, where land is very valuable, fallowing to any extent is not 

 admissible except under special circumstances., and fertility must be main- 

 tained by rotation and judicious manuring. The land is usually heavily and 

 continually cropped, and lengthy periods are not available for preparation. 

 The best system to follow is to plough the land deeply immediately it is 

 available, and work it down well with heavy harrows. Allow it to lie idle 

 until it is time to sow, and then cross plough and sow at once. The second 

 ploughing should only be shallow. During the time the land is lying in a 

 worked condition, ameliorating agencies are at work in the surface soil, 

 bringing it into a more fertile and sweetened condition, and it is extremely 

 inadvisable to bury this good soil by deep ploughing. Young sorghum plants, 

 like all others, have not the power of taking up plant food from the soil that 

 old plants have, and their growth must be encouraged by giving them the 

 very' best conditions. Apart from this, deep ploughing tends to loosen the 

 soil and increase the loss of moisture by evaporation, and this must be 

 guarded against. 



In districts which are normally dry it is necessary to adopt a different 

 system of cultivation. Good crops of sorghum, like good crops of other 

 kinds, can be obtained for many years without any special preparation, but 

 there are years when failures result if such a practice is followed ; and when 

 cows or sheep are to be fed chances cannot be taken. A supply of feed 

 must be provided, and this can only be done by timely working of the land. 

 In this, fallowing is an essential process, and although it has its drawbacks, 

 as for instance the loss of the land for some time, the certainty of a crop 

 more than counterbalances them. 



It must be remembered, that, to secure a good crop in dry districts, it is 

 necessary to augment the rainfall of the growing season by conserving 

 moisture before the crop is sown. Nearly half the battle is in getting a 

 good germination and a vigorous start. If the rainfall is depended upon tins 

 cannot always be obtained, but by good preparation it is assured, and the 

 crop is then in a position to take full advantage of later falls. The moisture 

 which is held in the soil is important, not because of its total quantity, but 

 because of the fact that it is held in such a position that it germinates the 

 seed and starts the crop off well. Sowing can then be done independently of 

 the weather, at the proper time for doing so. 



To obtain such a favourable soil condition it is necessary to commence 

 work early. The time varies according to the time the crop is to be sown, 

 but it should be about three or four months previously. A deep ploughing 

 should be given and the soil harrowed at once, or, if dry, immediately 

 sufficient rain falls to soften the hard clods. Harrowing or cultivation is 

 required at periods of about a month, until just before sowing, when the 



