Grains and Forage Crops 133 



Kafiir and Egyptian Corn. 



Docs Kaffir corn yield as well here as Ej^yl^tian corn? The fodder 

 is good feed and the heads stand crtct and at a more even height from 

 the ground, which makes three adzvntagcs over Egyptian. Irrigation in 

 either case is the same. 



The reasons you mention have no doubt had mucli to do with 

 the present popularity' of an upright plant like Kafir over a goose- 

 neck like the old dhoura or Egyptian, which was the type first 

 introduced in California. For years there has been more goose- 

 neck sorghum in the Sacramento valley than in any other part of 

 the State. It may have superior local adaptions or the people may 

 be more conservative. The way to determine which is better is 

 to try it out, and, unless the Egyptian does better in grain and 

 forage than the upright growers, take to the grain which holds its 

 head up. 



Sorghums for Seed. 



Which sorghum is the most profitable to plant for the seed only — 

 White Egyptian, Brown Egyptian or Yellow Milo? 



Which sorghum is best is apparently a local question and 

 governed by local conditions to a certain extent. Egyptian corn 

 (with the goose-neck stem) has held more popularity in your part 

 of the Sacramento than elsewhere, while Kaffir corn (holding its 

 head upright, as do many other sorghums) has been for years very 

 popular in the San Joaquin. In the Imperial valley Dwarf Milo 

 is chiefl}' grown for a seed crop shattering and bird invasion are 

 very important. G. W. Dairs of the San Joaquin valley, says there 

 is a very great difference in the different varieties regarding waste 

 from the blackbird. The ordinary white Egyptian corn is very easily 

 shelled, and the birds waste many times more of the grain than they 

 eat, after it has become thoroughly ripe. The Milo maize, or red 

 Egyptian corn, does not shell nearly so easily as the white corn, 

 and the grain is considerably harder and less attractive to the black- 

 birds. In fact, blackbirds will not work in a field of this variety of 

 corn if there is any white corn in the vicinity to be had. The 

 dwarf Milo maize yields much more crop than the white Egyptian 

 corn, or any other variety. Blackbirds do not damage the white 

 Kaffir corn to the extent they do the ordinary white Egyptian corn. 



Sorghum Planting. 



What is the best time to sow Egyptian corn; also hozv much per 

 acre to sow? 



All the sorghums, of which Egyptian corn is one, must be sown 

 after frost danger is over — the time widely known as suitable for 

 Indian corn, squashes and other tender plants. Sow thinly in shallow 

 furrows or "marks," 3^ or 4 feet apart and cultivate as long as 

 you can easily get through the rows with a horse. About 8 pounds 

 of seed is used per acre. If grown for green fodder, sow more 

 thickly and make the rows closer, say 2j^ feet apart. 



