HAY AND PASTURE CROPS IN DRY AREAS 355 



of which are some other tint. When harvested for hay, 

 the millet may be cut with the mower or the binder, 

 preferably the latter, when the crop stands up well and 

 the land is smooth. The binder should be set low. If 

 mown, the completion of the curing should take place in 

 the cock. If cut and bound it should take place in long- 

 shocks. The yield should average a ton or somewhat 

 more per acre. When harvested for seed the crop should 

 always be handled like small grain. The yields of seed 

 vary greatly. Broom corn millet should average about 

 20 bushels per acre. 



Combination for millet. In dry areas millet is but 

 little grown in combination for hay. It may, however, 

 be drilled in with sorghum or even Kafir corn, but the 

 advantage from growing it in combinations is to be ques- 

 tioned. 



GROWING PASTURE CROPS FROM GRASS 



The term "grass" as used here includes clovers and 

 alfalfa. To grow these pasture crops is one of the most 

 difficult problems that confronts the dry land farmer. 

 This is owing to the fact, first, that grass crops draw 

 heavily on the moisture in the soil, and, second, that a 

 dust mulch cannot be maintained on them to anything 

 like the same extent as on a grain crop. The native 

 grasses furnish a relatively small amount of pasture, and 

 the same is true of the prickly pear in far southern areas, 

 and the amount decreases with close and continued pas- 

 turing. It is the estimate of many ranchmen that from 

 10 to 15 acres are called for of native pasture in dry areas 

 to maintain a cattle beast of nearly mature or mature 

 age for one year. The dry land farmer cannot afford 

 to use any large proportion of his arable land in that 

 way, so small is the return from it, hence the necessity 

 for growing other and relatively more productive pas- 

 tures. 



