SORGHUMS 281 



results have been secured in dry regions from broad- 

 casting. In rows 36 inches wide, 3 pounds of seed to the 

 acre are sufficient, even with rather thick seeding, which 

 is recommended when grown for hay. For seed-pro- 

 duction much thinner seeding has given excellent results. 

 It is sometimes practicable in humid regions to sow in 

 18-inch rows and cultivate. This is especially desirable 

 where the land is very weedy. The grass grown under 

 such conditions does not become too coarse, and further- 

 more, the dense shade kills out the weeds. Five pounds 

 of seed to the acre should be used when thus sown. For 

 drilling or broadcasting 15 to 25 pounds of seed per acre, 

 depending on rainfall, should be used. The seed should 

 not be sown until the ground is warm, that is, about the 

 time for planting corn. Some experiments indicate that 

 Sudan-grass may be seeded considerably earlier, but 

 further experiments are needed before this can be stated 

 definitely. The young plants will withstand slight frosts 

 without injury. 



338. Utilization. Sudan-grass may be compared to 

 the millets in that it makes a large crop of hay in a short 

 season of warm weather. It is preferable to the millets, 

 however, in that the hay is much superior and can be fed 

 to all kinds of live stock without injury to them. While 

 it is closely related to the cultivated sorghums, it has much 

 finer stems, enabling it to be cured into hay readily and 

 thus filling a somewhat different function on the farm. 



It is probable that the same precautions will need to be 

 taken in pasturing Sudan-grass aftermath as with the 

 sorghums. 



339. Hay. Sudan-grass may be cut only once in a 

 season at the northern limit of its growth, but southward 

 may be cut two, three or even four times, depending on 



