SORGHUMS 269 



broadcasted stubble are sometimes cultivated after the 

 first cutting is removed. 



320. Yields of forage. The yields of forage from the 

 sorghums vary greatly and, as is the case with similar 

 coarse plants, are not often weighed. Maximum yields 

 probably reach 40 tons of green and about 10 of dry forage. 

 Very large yields can be obtained by growing very coarse 

 varieties, but smaller yields of less coarse fodder are more 

 desirable. In general, 3 tons an acre may be considered 

 a good yield and 6 tons a large yield. 



321. Seed. The seeds of the sorghums differ greatly 

 according to variety in size, shape, color and hardness. 

 The weight to the bushel will vary from 54 pounds to 62 

 pounds per bushel, depending upon the freedom from hulls 

 and the variety. The legal weight to the bushel is 30 

 pounds in Iowa and Nebraska ; 42 pounds in Missouri and 

 Mississippi ; 50 pounds in Arkansas and Tennessee ; 56 

 pounds in Kansas ; 57 pounds in Minnesota. 



According to the last census (1909) there was produced 

 833,707 bushels of seed on 72,497 acres. Of this Kansas 

 produced 565,522 bushels on 53,706 acres. Other im- 

 portant seed-producing states are Nebraska, Texas and 

 Oklahoma. 



The number of seeds in one pound of different varieties 

 is as follows : Sumac, 35,000 ; Orange, 23,500 ; Amber, 

 23,000. 



322. Agricultural varieties. The agricultural varieties 

 of the sorghums important for forage include all the sorgos 

 or sweet sorghums, the kafirs, milo and feterita, as well as 

 Sudan-grass. The broom-corns, the kowliangs, shallu and 

 many of the Indian and African-grown varieties have 

 dry, pithy stems and are therefore much less valuable 

 for forage. 



