SORGHUM. 



45] 



ground should be given a shallow ploughing and the seed bowd immediately. 

 It may appear that the use of the harrow is b mere detail, l>ut it is really 

 a matter of extreme importance and should not be neglected. By keeping 

 the surface loose and broken it checks evaporation and thereby helps to 

 achieve the main purpose of the work. 



On poor soils it is necessary to follow very much the same method as thai 



just laid down for dry districts. In tin's case, although a different object is 

 SOUght, the means used are similar. It is necessary to release the dormant 



Harvesting with Reaper and Binder. 



plant -food to render the soil sufficiently fertile, and it may be briefly stated 

 that preparation undertakes to conserve moisture is one of the chief ways of 

 doing this also. Green manuring is particularly necessary on this class of 

 land to keep it in good heart. 



Manuring. 



The soil should be kept in good condition by the application of farmyard 

 manure or by green manuring. Humus is supplied by these means, and it is 

 essential to keep the soil in good friable condition, and to maintain its 

 power of retaining moisture. Farmyard manure is, unfortunately not 

 available, except in rare cases, but its place can be satisfactorily taken by 

 crops which are treated in such a way that a considerable amount of organic 

 matter is returned to the soil. Leguminous crops are preferable, as, besides 

 supplying humus, they materially increase the supply of nitrogen in the soil 

 by drawing upon that in the atmosphere. Good results can be obtained from 

 cowpeas, field peas, vetches, or clover, according to the suitability of the 

 climate and soil for them. Cowpeas thrive on all classas of soil and in wet 

 or dry climates, provided they are warm enough. Field peas, vetches and 

 clovers require good loamy or clay soil and a cool, fairly moist climate. The 

 most satisfactory method of dealing with these crops, to obtain the best 

 results from them, both as feed and as soil renovators, is to feed them off 

 and plough under the residue. By this means the soil is wonderfully 

 improved, and at the same time some monetary return is obtained in milk, 

 meat, or wool. 



