Mix F.l.l. Wi'.ois CROPS. 623 



SUDAN GRASS.* 



Suda i grass La a member <»t' the sorghum family',' of which the two most 

 important economic Species are Johnson grass ( A ndropogon halepi nsis) and t he 

 ordinary sorghums, including Sudan grass ( -I ndrojiogon sorghum). Asia well 

 known, Johnson grasp is a perennial possessing rootstocks ; Sudan, on the 

 other hand, is an annual (rarely perennial), and has no rootstocks. Owing 

 to the fact also that Sudan grass has a much finer leaf and stem than the 

 cultivated sorghums, and because of its well-marked stooling characteristics, 



it has 1 n classified as a variety of Andropogon sorghum, and is botanically 



called Andropogon sorghum sudanensis. 



Sudan grass is a nativeof Anglo-Egyptian Sudan, North Africa, where it is 

 cultivated under the name " garawi." It was first introduced into the Unite I 

 States in 1909 and tried under cultivation, when its success was so pro- 

 nounced that the demand ha- seed soon far exceeded the supply. One Wig 

 seed firm in 1 9 1 2 catalogued the price of the seed at 8s. peril)., while Sydney 

 seedsmen recently quoted it at 9d., a fairly conclusive indication of the 

 extent to which the cultivation of this grass has been extended. It was first 

 tried in New South Wales in 1913 at Yanco Experiment Farm, when the 

 first supply of acclimatised se^d was obtained, and cultivation has since 

 extended throughout the length and breadth of the State. The Department 

 has always used its own supply of seed, so that any seed issued or sold to 

 farmers bears the hall-mark of acclimatisation since the year 1913. 



Characteristics and Possibilities. 

 Sudan grass is adapted to any part of New South Wales except localities 

 with an elevation of over 2,500 feet; while it thrives best under irrigation 

 and on the coast, hiffh yields having been obtained from it as far west as 

 Nyngan. Being very sensitive to frosts, no growth at all is made i>: the 

 winter; but the manner in which it will thrive on a small rainfall and 

 '• hold on " over dry periods is one of its most prominent characteristics. 

 During the phenomenal drought of 1918-19, reports were received from all 

 over the State testifying to its remarkable drought-resisting qualities. At 

 Bathurst Experiment Farm it was fed off right clown to the ground, and 

 yet produced a crop of 400 lb. of seed to the acre on a rainfall, extending 

 over a period of six months, of only 6 inches; while at Nyngan Experiment 

 Farm it grew 5 feet high and matured seed on 387 points of rain. > T ~ native 

 grass at the experiment farms has succeeded in growing and re -dining its 

 succulence under dry conditions in the same degree as Sudan grass It is very 

 rapid growing, maturing ten to twelve weeks after sowing ; cuts are obtainable 

 from it at intervals of eight to ten weeks in an ordinary season. 



Sudan grass may be grown for pasture, hay or ensilage. As a pasture 

 grass, it is characterised by palatability and nutritive quality of a high order. 

 while its stooling qualities are considerably improved by grazing. Both 

 sheep and dairy cattle are extremely fond of it. It will carry a cow to the 

 acre for at least five months of the year on the coast and under irrigation, and 

 at least a sheep to the acre on the slopes and tablelands so that the laying 

 down of a paddock of it for pasture each summer undoubtedly pays. At the 

 present time farmers in wheat-growing districts depend, during the summer 

 and autumn months mostly on stubble, native pastures, and herbage on 



* E. Breakwell, B.A., B.Sc. 



