SORGHUM. 155 



sweel juicea are readily attacked and converted into acids. When the crop is 

 fui at tilt; right stage, however, and precautions taken to exclude air, very 

 sal isfactory silage results. 



The crop should not be cut when too immature, but just after the seeds 

 have begun to harden. At the same time it should not be allowed to become 

 too fully mature, as the proportion of fibre rapidly increases a1 maturity. 

 There is not as much difference in the protein content of sorghum and maize 

 silage as in the case of the green fodder, and the protein content may be 

 increased by mixing with cowpess or some other Leguminous plant, when the 

 chaffing is being carried out. Cowpeas go through fairly easily if they are 

 fed i" the machine <>n top of a light feed of sorghum. 



Excellent stack silage lias been made from surplus growth of sorghum at 

 the Elawkesbury Agricultural College, and it was readily eaten by stock. 



Sorghum Hay. 

 Sorghum makes excellent coarse hay. The fine-stemmed sweet varietes 

 are the most -suitable, and when properly cured the hay i> very palatable to 

 stock of all kinds. Sorghum which is not required for green feed can he 

 effectively conserved as hay when the quantity is not sufficient for conversion 

 into silage. It has been utilised by some farmers in this way, but the practice 

 i-- not widespread. This is chiefly due to want of knowledge of its value, as 

 in the drier regions of America it is extensively usee), especially for fattening 



steers. 



The hay is made by cutting the ciop when the seed has formed, and after 

 partially drying, it is gathered into windrows or small cocks, and finally into 

 bunches of about 1,200 lb. It is either allowed to remain in these until 

 required for feed, or after further drying, put into stacks like ordinary hay. 

 The stems will not shed water, and when the stacks are built outside, it is 

 necessary to protect them from rain by thatching or some other covering. 



Farmers have also found that sorghum dried and cut into chaff is an 

 excellent substitute for wheaten or oaten chaff. 



Improvement by Selection. 



It has been definitely established that sorghums can be considerably 

 improved by a process of selection, producing a much greater yield, higher 

 sugar content, immunity from " rust," and quicker maturing qualities. The 

 head to-row method is the best and quickest for such improvement. Marked 

 plants should have the heads bagged as soon as the flower begins to form ; 

 such bagging will be effective in preventing cross pollination. When the 

 pollen of the flowers enclosed by the bags has done its work in fertilising its 

 own seed, and is "dead," the bags should be removed to prevent mouldiness. 



In working up a stock of seed from the selected plant, it is often necessary 

 to isolate the row or rows of such seed from other varities, in order to 

 keep the variety pure. Two or more varieties can be safely sown in contact 

 with each other if the flowering periods are different, or sometimes the 

 difficulty can be removed by sowing equal maturing varieties at different 

 periods. 



The best varieties should eventually be narrowed down by the farmer to a 

 best single variety, and further extension is then an easy matter. In working 

 up a stock of seed of a good variety care should be taken to isolate the 

 paddock from other plants with which it is likely to cross, such as Sudan 

 grass or broom millet. Uniformity of crop should be continually aimed at, 



